SUVA: In the wake of yesterday’s news that Fiji Water had closed its plant in Fiji and would no longer operate in the country, a new statement to the contrary has been released by the company.
President and COO John Cochran said that Fiji Water has now decided to stay in Fiji.
“Following discussions today with Fijian officials, Fiji Water will re-open its bottling plant, effective Wednesday morning, December 1, at its regular start-up time of 8am,” he said.
Cochran also revealed that Fiji Water have agreed to the considerable increase of the tax per litre of water extracted, which caused the reaction to pull out.
“Through our discussions, we have also agreed to comply with Fiji’s new water tax law,” he said.
"Fiji Water is committed to working with the Fijian government, and remains dedicated to helping the country’s economy and its people.”
It is a positive although baffling about-face from the company considering Cochran’s strongly-worded statement on Monday.
The decision to stay came after a meeting between Fiji Water officials and Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Frank Bainimarama yesterday. Fiji’s Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum also attended the meeting.
Vijay Narayan reported on Fiji Village that the Fiji Water officials deliberated for two hours following the meeting, before responding positively that they will stay in the country and re-open the plant immediately.
Alex Perrottet
