FIJI needs to adopt or enact laws that are relevant to the country.
These were the sentiments shared by Attorney-General and Minister for Industry and Trade Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the opening of the 34th International Organisation for Standardisation Consumer Policy Committee summit at Nadi earlier this week.
"In Fiji, for example, we have adopted laws from Australia and various other jurisdictions," he said.
"However, these laws have been drafted for the specific needs of those jurisdictions, meaning every provision of these laws will not necessarily be appropriate for Fiji."
He cited parts of the Land Transport Act as an example and specifically in the area of fines for not wearing a seatbelt is $80.
He explained that an $80 fine in Australia was appropriate given peoples earnings there รน the same however, did not apply here.
"An $80 fine in Fiji for someone who is earning $150 per week is more than 50 per cent of their income. So what does that mean?
"It means that it leaves room open for bribery and corruption. These are some of the hard core realities that we need to be aware of.
"That when applying laws, when putting in place provisions, they need to be tailored for that particular jurisdiction."
He said one of the first changes done by the Bainimarama Government was reduction in penalties for seatbelt infringement.