Water will not be privatised: Bune
Thursday August 30, 2007

Interim Public Enterprises and Public Sector Reform, Poseci Bune.

Fiji's interim regime has no intention of privatising water at all, says interim Minister for Public Service, Public Enterprises and Public Sector Reform, Poseci Bune.

Bune was replying to a media statement following the promulgation of the Water Authority of Fiji bill by the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo last Friday.

He clarified that privatisation meant totally disposing all or part of government shares and control of a particular entity to the private sector. This is not the case with the Water Authority of Fiji which, although is set up outside the ambit of government, is still within government's control.

Bune said government had no intention of privatising water, but, is putting in place a corporate structure to ensure that the Water Authority of Fiji provides quality and timely delivery of water and other services to its customers.

"As you are aware the numerous problems that customers have had to endure over the last few years are mainly due to the bureaucratic systems in government that have been further compounded by widespread operational inefficiencies in recent years. This has been a critical factor due largely to the failure of the Water and Sewerage Department addressing infrastructure requirements in a timely manner.

"Government is of the view that problems will continue into the future unless a separate corporate entity is empowered, funded and given the autonomy to make decisions in a timely manner as any amount of money will not resolve the current problems being faced," he said.

He said government was mindful of the fact that the upgrading and expansion of existing infrastructure was critical in meeting future demands and as such an allocation of $87.8 million is set aside for improved regional water supplies around the country, and $26.6 million for regional sewerage services in the Revised 2007 National Budget.