QUESTION 53 How important is Fiji Water to the Fijian economy? And given that Fiji's revenue is shirking, would you consider increasing the tax rate for the extraction of water in Fiji from 15cents per litre to 20 cents per litre? Fiji Water has turned out to be very, very important to Fiji. It is a small nation. Fiji Water is actually the number one export of any kind from the country in dollar value and it has only been around for a little more than a decade. Fiji water contributes to the Fijian Economy (environment betterment, community aids) Fiji Water spokespersons are talking about their "green" efforts as though they have already occurred or are presently being carried out, they have not in reality. They are, in fact, future goals that have yet to be achieved, or in most cases, even begun. Fiji Water have benefited local economic development by advertising the country around the world. It is hard to believe that they have opened up doors for Fijians when Fiji Water has copyrighted the word "FIJI" in many nations including the U5. The charitable works Fiji Water brags about most often, however, are its efforts in Fiji itself from preserving rainforests to helping fund water and sanitation projects to underwriting kindergartens. This January, after catastrophic floods swept the main island of Viti Levu, the company also donated $500,000 to the military regime for flood relief, and gave another $450,000 to various projects last summer. True, some of Fiji Water's good works are more hope than reality: Though Lynda Resnick insists, "We only use biofuels," the Fiji plant runs on diesel generators and a project to protect 50,000 acres of rainforestplugged on the actual bottle labelhas yet to obtain a lease. Fiji Waters charitable work, environmental betterment funds and other projects and aid or relief at times of natural disasters Fiji Water has led to increase in employment and increase in Fiji's Revenue, which leads to increase in the GDP of Fiji. As Fiji's revenue is shirking I would support the idea of increasing the tax rate for the extraction of water in Fiji from 15 cents per litre to 20 cents per litre as this will increase the revenue for Fiji resulting in increase in GDP of Fiji. An increase of tax rate to 20 cents per litre will not lead to the loss of Fiji Water Company as it is already a very established business and it is iconic, globally known and preferred brand by all people including celebrities