The Interim Finance Minister has asked the Prices and Incomes Board to conduct an investigation into why the retail price of certain locally manufactured and imported food and everyday consumer items have escalated in recent months.
Mahendra Chaudhry said he is aware of the sudden increase in the overall cost of food and the hardship being faced by the people.
He said he has been receiving numerous complaints regarding the sudden price hike and they are now looking into this to see if they are justified or unfair advantage is being taken by retailers.
According to Chaudhry the PIB, consumer Council of Fiji, Department of Fair Trading and Customs Authorities may carry out their own investigations and carry out join exercises to determine the actual causes of price hikes.
Chaudhry has also asked PIB to get an accurate situation report and if necessary, there may be a need to consider imposing price controls on essential items.
Meanwhile, Chaudhry has also asked the Agriculture Minister to consider reviewing quarantine regulations so that these goods are sourced from cheaper markets. He said one of the regulations date back to the Colonial days designed to protect the Australian and New Zealand markets.
