14 Jan 2008

Fiji opposition criticises Fiji Water crackdown

2:28 pm on 14 January 2008

Fiji's ousted opposition leader Mick Beddoes says the interim administration's move to prevent products from Fiji Water being exported is too heavy handed.

Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority or FIRCA has stopped shipping agents from exporting Fiji Water since December over valuation issues.

Mr Beddoes says the government should have take a more lenient position over the matter, which has created negative publicity and damaged the product's international reputation.

He says he's sure the matter can be settled through dialogue, without having to compromise the company's operation.

"You don't have to stop the entire operation of the company and cause it to get into cashflow difficulties, because you're not satisfied with some of the documentation. And there are ways and means of doing it between two organisations, and if you cannot reach agreement, surely there is the fallback position of our courts, if you wish to resolve the dispute."

Mick Beddoes says he isn't advocating special treatment for Fiji Water, but rather a more conciliatory approach.