THE Fiji Bus Operators Association says comments made by Land Transport Authority chief executive officer Samuel Simpson to Western Division bus operators were “authoritarian” and “unfortunate”.
Association general secretary Rohit Latchan said concerns raised by West bus operators about their difficulty in providing service because of their inability to pay wages, purchase fuel and meet bank commitments was the harsh reality of the environment they were operating in.
“Across Fiji, many bus operators are struggling because bus fares have remained unchanged for 10 years while the majority of costs have gone up,” Mr Latchan said.
“These concerns are nothing new as the Fiji Bus Operators Association has been highlighting this at every opportunity, in a bid to get the powers-that-be to listen to the plight of the operators.
“The suggested action by operators in the Western Division has only come about because they cannot afford to operate any longer.
“It has come to a stage that they are unable to pay wages, purchase fuel and meet their bank commitments and many have received demand notices from their financiers.
“Today’s (yesterday) statement by the chief executive officer of the Land Transport Authority labelling the Western bus operators’ move as ‘guerrilla actions’ demonstrates an authoritarian style and is unfortunate.
“Threatening operators to ‘show cause’ for not being able to run services will not change the fact that high costs and reduced profitability on a decade-old fare structure remains a real threat to the entire industry.
“It is his responsibility as the chief executive of LTA to examine and understand the real reasons for these operators’ actions before resorting to threats.
“Ordering bus operators not to withdraw services without showing any willingness to understand the real issues bus operators are confronted with is unbecoming of a person in his position.
Mr Latchan said while he apologised to those who had been affected, he said he hoped the travelling public would understand the difficult position operators were in.
