Tsunami alert

Fulori Turaga, Suva

It is really interesting to note how some people still don’t take warnings or alerts seriously in case of natural disasters.

When evacuating the building and moving to higher grounds when the tsunami alert was issued. I could see many were still casually strolling along the Nasese seawall and foreshore area.

It makes me wonder if we are ever going to learn to take heed of such warnings.

What will it take for us to finally realise that such warnings or alerts are extremely important?

Rude customer service

Bindula Devi, Consumer Council of Fiji, Suva

We refer to Kirti Patel’s letter on ‘Rude Customer Service’ published in The Fiji Sun on January 2.

The Consumer Council of Fiji admires Ms Patel’s solidarity and would like to thank her for highlighting the issue of customer service in restaurants.

We wish to remind all service providers to match their services to the money they make from the consumers. After all, the customers do not give you bad money for the services you provide in exchange.

The Council has previously highlighted issues relating to improper food handling by restaurant/kitchen staff, re-use of cooking oil, and other practices that endanger consumers’ health and safety. The Food Safety Regulations 2009 requires food handlers to maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness.

The law also requires restaurant owners to maintain a clean and hygienic cooking environment and wash room facilities. Additionally, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has implemented a Restaurant Grading System whereby the Ministry, upon its inspections, issues each restaurant a grade based on the food quality and service delivery it offers to consumers. This grading is presented to the restaurant in the form of a certificate and needs to be visibly placed at the restaurant premises for consumers to see.

Moreover, the restaurant owners are required by law to provide receipts to the consumers.

The receipt is a document that relates to a sale transaction and indicates the agreed price of the services the service provider provides to the consumer.

Not issuing receipts is an offence by virtue of Value Added Tax Regulations 1991.

Receipts are a requirement as per Regulation (7) of the Value Added Tax Regulations 1991 which states:

“Notwithstanding any other regulation, a supplier shall not unless requested by the recipient be required to provide a tax invoice if the consideration in money for a supply does not exceed $10 or such amount as the minister may from time to time, by legal notice declare.”

For goods and service above $10, retailers or service providers are required by law to issue receipts to consumers. For any purchases below the sum of $10, a consumer has a right to demand for a receipt if it is not provided.

Consumers are also advised to demand for receipts no matter how busy the place is. Receipt is the evidence of the services that have been rendered to the consumers.

It assists in providing appropriate redress in the event the consumer is not satisfied with the services provided to them. The consumers must always retain their receipts in order to be compensated for their loss.

Lastly, the Council wishes to remind the service providers to maintain professionalism and high level customer service at all times. The consumers pay for the services that are provided to them and in return expect appropriate service delivery.

Restaurant owners are urged to act in accordance with the law and treat consumers fairly.

We also encourage consumers to lodge complaints at the Council if they are not satisfied with the services provided by the service providers.

Holland Street ordeal

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

I read with interest the blame game between the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) and the Suva City Council (SCC) on the lack of foot patrols by the Police.

Maybe we should ask the SCC to start by identifying who owns the empty lots in the area. Is it Crown land or freehold? Maybe the Lands department can check up on this too.

It is a known area for many street and homeless kids who frequent it day and night. The street lights should have been a priority long time back, but nevertheless we had to wait for something drastic like a suspected rape to react.

Dudley High School is an icon at the top junction of Holland Street and the safety of our school children is at risk.

I would like to requesting the SCC to trim those Christmas trees that are on both sides of the street, while we await FRA to prioritise the installation of the lights.

May we ask the Minister for Local Government, Parveen Bala, to direct the SCC to fence off the empty lots and clear the areas concerned, but invoice the owners accordingly for the works done.

Certainly the duty of care collectively belongs to SCC’s chief executive, Bijay Chand, FRA’s CEO John Hutchinson and the Police.

Now that the young woman was brutally assaulted and suspected of being raped, who is going to compensate her for the trauma and injuries she suffered? Her childhood dreams and her rights has been abused and violated.

Please Government, there is only one way to curb rape, but to bring back the death sentence.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj