Fuel pain hits home

Government authorises any increase in fuel price set by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), as public frustrations surface over the sudden price hike and lack of incentive to cushion the impact.

Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel was caught off-guard when approached outside his office yesterday following a Government statement issued earlier in the day indicating Government’s non-interference in setting fuel price.

Mr Immanuel and the FCCC chairperson, Cecil Browne, signed off on the fuel price increase on Tuesday, March 31, the day before the increase came into effect.

FCCC explained that the increase follows the April review of international refined fuel prices (MOPS), freight rates and exchange rate movements, amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

We asked Mr Immanuel on statements made by himself and the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, on March 17, 2026, that there would be no fuel price increase.

He said the price increase was a process done by the FCCC.

“FCCC can declare any price increase based on their calculation,” he said.

Mr Immanuel had told this masthead last month that there’s a two-month lag time for any increase to happen, which would come into effect around May.

“That was the indication provided by the fuel companies at that time. A lot of things happen in between,” he said.

“Fuel companies are now saying that it’s because of other related costs, some mention for insurance, and that’s why FCCC took that into account when calculating for this increase.”

Mr Immanuel said FCCC does the calculating of any increase independently.

“We have faith in FCCC as an organisation.”

The minister did not say what form of subsidies will be provided by the Government; however, he said it would be determined later.

Mr Rabuka declined to speak to the media outside the Centenary Church in Suva yesterday.

FCCC chief executive officer Senikavika Jiuta declined to respond directly to our questions when contacted via phone call yesterday.

Instead, she said: “At the moment, we don’t want to aggravate the information that’s out there.”

When pressed on the matter, Ms Jiuta said “there was no change in methodology of calculating the price increase, everything was the same.”

Questions sent to the CEO remain unanswered when this edition went to press.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu labelled the increase “reckless” and “unacceptable”.

“...that the FCCC chose to announce such a significant nationwide fuel price increase just four hours before midnight. This kind of decision-making shows a complete disregard for ordinary Fijians, who were given no reasonable time to prepare or adjust,” he said.

“It also raises serious and legitimate questions on what changed overnight? If the Government was so confident that there would be no increase, why were Fijians blindsided in this manner?

“Fijians were clearly told that there would be a two-month buffer before global price changes impacted local fuel prices. The FCCC must now come forward and justify why this position has suddenly shifted and whether proper oversight and coordination existed within Government before this decision was made.”

Mr Seruiratu urges Government to review and relax fuel tax levies to provide immediate relief to Fijians.

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