The Fiji Competition and Commerce Commission (FCCC) is looking at improving the market for various services in Rotuma.

The organisation is currently recruiting two area enforcement offices to monitor prices of goods and services in Rotuma.

This comes as villagers have complained of the high prices on the island.

They claimed that shopkeepers had a tendency of increasing prices soon after they were visited by FCCC personnel that travel all the way from the mainland.

This was stated in their Way Forward report presented to the Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion (REACH) team last week.

REACH – an initiative by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – is reaching out to remote communities with various services rarely offered there.

Their latest outreach was in Rotuma this month. One of the major setbacks faced on the island is shipping services as it only caters on the island once a month – mainly on franchise run.

Many villagers have raised serious concerns regarding the boat fare and freight charges too.

Travelling to Rotuma costs $165 one way and the route is normally taken by Goundar Shipping Services.

The organisation is expected to meet with the boat company to discuss the matter.

It is also expected to conduct the final inspection and installation testing for all generators already installed on the island. They will be issuing the Generator Licence afterwards.

FCCC has invited traders and other stakeholders to meet its staff and discuss issues and solutions that could promote competition and fair trade in the Fijian market.

Story By: josefa.babitu@fijisun.com.fj