National Federation Party Member of Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua is wrong when she claims that a Walesi set-up box costs $149, says Walesi chief executive officer Sanjay Maharaj.

The maximum retail price of a Walesi Set Top Box costs $99.

Mr Maharaj set the record straight yesterday by clarifying what Ms Qereqeratabua has been saying in Parliament and to media.

“It is of grave concern when a Member of Parliament is lying to the media. Ms Qereqeretabua is lying when she talks about the cost of Walesi and our connectivity. In fact, when Ms Qereqeretabua spoke about the same issue in Parliament, she was clearly told by members on the other side of the floor that she was incorrect.

“Despite being corrected in Parliament, Ms Qereqeretabua went on to lie further in media. There have been numerous statements made in Parliament by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, while he has presented previous budgets and talked further on the discounted and subsidised rates of the set-up boxes.

“To provide greater accessibility to all Fijians, the Minister of Communication launched the Walesi Set Top Box Subsidy scheme in 2016. The scheme subsides a free Walesi Set Top Box to any household, which has a joint income under $30,000.”

As of today, 109,761 Fijians have been given the set-up boxes free of any cost through the Fijian Government’s scheme and they now have access to Walesi services through their Free Walesi Set Top Box.

In total, 134,797 Walesi Set Top Boxes have been issued to Fijians across the country.

Request for response emailed and texted to Ms Qereqeretabua remained unanswered when this edition went to press.

Mr Maharaj added: “The Member of Parliament also fails to mention the other mediums to access Walesi Services. Walesi services can also be accessed through the Walesi Mobile Device App and the Walesi Satellite Service.

Walesi has 450,499 downloads of their app and this gives their users full accessibility to all channels including the education channel. Walesi has 711 Satellite installations across the country with the majority of these installations in maritime areas where previously no television transmission was available.

Their services can also be accessed through their Customer Care Centres in Suva, Sigatoka, Lautoka, Ba, Rakiraki, Labasa and Savusavu.

“Walesi strongly refutes the erroneous claims made by the Member of Parliament regarding Walesi service accessibility, the cost of Set Top Boxes and options to acquire Walesi Set Top Boxes. For all correct and verified information regarding all Walesi services, please visit our website www.walesi.com.fj. Walesi has a toll-free Customer Care line 1525 which provides customer and technical support.”

Mr Maharaj said Ms Qereqeretabua should have just made a call to them to get the facts before misleading Parliament and the Fijian public.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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