Commodore Bainimarama, what made you take action to ensure that a solution is found in relation to the water bottlers saga?

"When I heard that the water bottling plants were shutting down, I arranged for a meeting with the Attorney General who I had used earlier in bringing about an end to the bus strike. I had wanted someone outside who had an independent view of the problems that we had with the bottlers. So they had a meeting last night. They have arrived at an amicable solution with the bottling companies and I understand that the bottling companies will stop strike and they will start work immediately."

Why was this action was taken when the interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has maintained all along that the duties should be paid by the water bottling companies?

"We took that same direction when we arranged the meeting with the Bus Owners Association. I just wanted somebody from the outside as I had said with an independent mind to talk to the business community. In this case, the bottlers, and I had members of my Military Council who were also present last night with the Attorney General to find out a resolution that we could come to, to provide a win-win situation for all. And I guess that’s what happened last night."

Did you speak to Mr. Chaudhry before the interim Attorney General and the members of the military council met with the water bottlers last night?

"I have not been able to get in touch with him. He had his phone off. But I tried to relay a message across to him that the Attorney General and members of the Military Council were going to sit in and talk to the bottling companies."

Will you speak to Mr. Chaudhry today as he had maintained that the taxes should stay as the decision made last night is in direct conflict with Chaudhry's stance?

"Yes, we need to talk. I have decided last night with the Attorney General and the members of the Military Council to repeal the 20 cent per litre excise and 20 cent per litre export taxes which were approved by cabinet so we need to talk about that."

Will you meet Mr. Chaudhry today in relation to this action taken by investors and having to move in to resolve the issue?

"Yes, I said we will go back to him today to tell him about the decision that we took last night."

What if Mr. Chaudhry disagrees with the decision taken last night as he had maintained that the water bottlers should pay the duty? What will you do then?

"I don’t want to pre-empt something that I don’t know about."