The Fiji Times has highlighted a significant change in leadership at the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) following the short-lived appointment of Joel Abraham as the new chairman. Just a day after his position was announced by the Minister for Commerce and Business Development, Esrom Immanuel, this appointment was abruptly rescinded.
On December 24, Joel Abraham was appointed to lead the FCCC, succeeding Cecil Browne, who had held the chairmanship since being appointed by former minister Manoa Kamikamica. The FCCC transitioned from operating under the Ministry of Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications to reporting to the Ministry of Commerce and Business Development.
While Mr. Abraham’s appointment was initially set to commence on December 25, Minister Immanuel stated the following day that the “status quo remained,” indicating that Mr. Browne continued in his role as chair. In a subsequent clarification, Minister Immanuel suggested that Mr. Abraham would be resigning to permit him to concentrate on other vital economic issues, thereby not participating in FCCC governance.
This event follows the FCCC’s recent decision to raise tariffs for Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL), a move that has ignited public discussions regarding the implications of such changes. Communication shared with the Fiji Times revealed concerns from FCCC CEO Senikavika Jiuta, who expressed bewilderment regarding the minister’s dissatisfaction with Mr. Browne given her belief that the tariff review adhered to established protocols.
As uncertainty looms over FCCC’s leadership, both Mr. Browne and Mr. Abraham have been contacted for comments, but neither had responded by the report’s deadline. This scenario underscores the ongoing dialogue surrounding governance and regulatory frameworks within the FCCC, underlining its importance during a pivotal moment for the Fijian economy. Moving forward, stakeholders and the public will closely monitor how this situation evolves and its potential impact on key economic issues.