The Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, during the World Consumer Right Day celebrations yesterday. Photo: JONA KONATACI
RANOBA BAOA
suva, newsroom
The Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted that aside from issues faced between consumers and telecommunication companies, more collaborative approaches must be made.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said this during Fiji’s celebrations of World Consumer Rights Day, themed: Fix our Phone Rights, held at the University of the South Pacific yesterday.
“Consumers and the service providers must make be more interactive as opposed to painting a tainted image on a company when not all of its services are bad,” he said.
“The reality is there are various businesses that make investment in various areas to make a profit and provide other services. We as consumers want to access those goods and services. However it does not mean the businesses are there to exploit the consumer. On the other hand it also does not mean from consumer perspective, all businesses are bad.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum agreed there are differences that need to be addressed because a big company that may have access to the technical expertise and advise that an ordinary consumer does not have.
He said that’s what they want to do and they have the decrees put in place to ensure that consumers are protected.
“The point is we have laws that are there to protect the consumers and there’s a need to continuously address this which is why the consumer council plays a very role, so does the commerce commission and all of you as individuals.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s comments came in response to a number of issues raised by Consumer Council of Fiji chief executive, Premila Kumar.
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