The Fiji Times has reported a notable shift in leadership within the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), following the appointment of Joel Abraham as its new chairman, which was abruptly rescinded by Minister for Commerce and Business Development, Esrom Immanuel, just 24 hours later.
On December 24, the day of Mr. Abraham’s appointment, Cecil Browne was removed from his position as FCCC chair, a role he had held since being appointed by former minister Manoa Kamikamica. The FCCC, which previously operated under the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, now reports to the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development.
Mr. Abraham’s appointment was officially set to take effect on December 25, extending for a term of three years until December 24, 2028. However, the following day, Minister Immanuel emphasized that the “status quo remained,” suggesting that Mr. Browne still held the chair position.
In a statement clarifying the situation, Mr. Immanuel mentioned that Mr. Abraham would be resigning to allow him to focus on other critical areas of the economy, rather than engaging with the processes and governance of the FCCC. This continuation of Mr. Browne as chair occurs in the wake of the FCCC’s recent decision to increase tariffs for Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL), an action that has sparked public discussion.
Correspondence shared with the Fiji Times indicated concerns from FCCC CEO Senikavika Jiuta regarding Mr. Browne’s removal. She expressed confusion over the minister’s reported dissatisfaction, especially given her understanding that the tariff review had followed proper procedures.
In light of this leadership uncertainty, both Mr. Browne and Mr. Abraham have been approached for comments, though they had not responded by the time this report was finalized. The situation highlights ongoing discussions around governance and regulatory processes within the FCCC at a critical time for the Fijian economy.