Residents of Vitogo Village discuss key consumer items during talanoa session

Residents of Vitogo Village in Lautoka and Narewa Village in Nadi got the opportunity to discuss key consumer issues with the CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission during talanoa sessions organized in the respective villages earlier this week.

The sessions which are part of the Commission’s community engagement and education programme, formed a platform for the villagers to gain insights on their rights and responsibilities as a consumer, the roles and functions and the complaints handling procedure of the Commission.

During the talanoa sessions Joel Abraham explained the issue of increasing cost of living and how the issue can be tackled by consumers.

[Photo: Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission

Abraham explained that the price of certain items fluctuates due to number of reasons, such as the importation cost, processing and cartage cost.

He stated that Fiji has been classified as the price taker rather than price setter, as majority of the items are imported in Fiji.

Abraham says products such as rice, wheat and split peas are not grown locally but they are imported, processed, packed and retailed locally in Fijian supermarkets.

He informed the villagers that while the prices of items at times increase, it also decreases as well.

He reminded consumers that they should not be swayed by wrong information regarding pricing of goods.