Thirty two companies have been charged, a few up to $50,000, with over pricing goods that had VAT lowered on them following the last National Budget.

In saying that cane farmers have been asked to report to the Fiji Sugar Corporation any spare parts shop that has suddenly increased their prices for the parts of heavy goods vehicles.

“We will charge them if they are doing that,” Acting prime Minister and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said of the 32 that were charged two were challenging the charges in court.

He added that some companies have quietly paid the fines in an effort to keep their names quiet.

He was responding to a small talanoa session at Rarawai Mill in Ba yesterday after he had opened the crushing season there.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said a lot of retailers were not passing this reduction in VAT down to the consumers.

“A lot of them want to make an immediate profit and not looking further than their noses.”

Farmers had complained about the rise in spare parts costs for trucks and tractors and were advised to notify FSC on which companies were doing this.

Meanwhile a mill worker had requested Mr Sayed-Khaiyum to look at an increase in their pays and salaries.

He told the worker that he had already had talks with the FSC CEO Graham Clark and this was already being looked at.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said they would look at job descriptions and the risks included and this would determine the pay structure that would be implemented.

Edited by: Selita Bolanavanua

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