The Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority said the interim government and FIRCA should not be blamed for the closure of water bottling companies yesterday afternoon.

Chief Executive Officer Jitoko Tikolevu said they were still negotiating the matter with the water bottling companies and were not expecting a move like this.

Speaking to Fijivillage, Tikolevu stressed that FIRCA and the Interim Finance Minister were not given adequate time to look through various companies submissions.