FIJI Taxi Association president Raben Bhan Singh was forced to take over proceedings at the Nadi Taxi Association annual general meeting yesterday after tempers flared between base taxi operators and zone permit holders.
Mr Singh called on all participants at the forum to remain calm and with FTA general secretary Ashwin Lal and treasurer Bal Naidu, took over the meeting and handled the election of new office bearers for the Nadi Taxi Association.
“I made it very clear that the FTA would not tolerate any kind of misbehaviour,” said Mr Singh.
“I told them that we all had to work together and let people know that we are interested in unity because every time there is an association meeting, there is someone wanting to fight, where will that fighting take us?”
Tensions reached breaking point when Nadi Taxi Association executives, with the approval of FTA, allowed zone permit holders to enter the meeting premises.
Base taxi operators in the crowd called out during the forum, saying the AGM was for Nadi Taxi Association members only.
FTA president Mr Singh said the FTA board had taken a decision to allow zone permit holders to sit in the meeting, however, they were barred from participating in the election of office bearers.
After calling the meeting to order, Mr Singh called for nominations for the positions of president, vice-president, general secretary, assistant general secretary and treasurer.
Aslam Khan was voted in as the new president of the Nadi Taxi Association, he replaced Vasu Nair. More than 50 Nadi Taxi Association members and more than 70 zone permit holders were present at the AGM.
