NEWS: Fiji Water Has Trouble In Paradise
| Ah, controversy.
We were catching up on our in-box and were startled to find that Fiji Water announced on November 30th that it was ceasing operations in Fiji. It later announced that the plant would reopen. A deep underground aquifer on the South Pacific island nation has been the source of one of the world’s most popular bottled water brands. It’s “The most fashionable and popular bottled water brand in the U.S. and the world,” according to water website TapItWater.com. On its blog, Fiji Water says it was being singled out by the military-led government for a massive tax increase: 15 cents per liter of water taken from the aquifer, up from 1/3 cent. And the government deported David Roth, Fiji’s Director of External Affairs. But, after shutting down and laying off 400 workers, the company decided to reopen. |
Trouble in paradise: Fiji government now |
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| Fiji Water ships $150 million of water each year, about 20% of Fiji’s total exports. It also employs hundreds of residents, and spends more than a million dollars a year on community projects.
Fiji Water lovers can take a breather for now. But they might be in for a price hike: perhaps 15 cents per liter?
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