SO, I was at the cinemas the other day, I have witnessed so much has been done to educate the people of Fiji regarding the new e-ticketing system and the new bus cards. Well, thanks to Vodafone Fiji, the old cards now have to be replaced. It will be a free replacement if done at the Vodafone Fiji retail outlets, otherwise it might incur a $3 administrative cost at the other authorised outlets. And there was absolutely no information on how the old cards will be handled.
Vodafone Fiji’s push for bus card replacements has been widely advertised, but is anyone asking what happens to the discarded old cards. I know for sure they will be collected or have already been collected, but the question is will they be burned openly, dumped in a landfill, or discarded in the sea, causing harm to the environment and wildlife. There is absolutely no information given, and I really hope it does not become the plastic in the ocean. As Fiji makes strides in digitalising public transport, one question remains: “Are we truly thinking about the environmental cost?”
In addition, we the people of Fiji are not fully aware of the rationale behind Vodafone Fiji working so hard to promote the use of bus cards. If the media blitz around bus card replacements is anything to go by, the campaign must be expensive, but where’s the breakdown. All the media, print, radio, web, and television, including cinemas, very well cover the urgency for a card replacement. Such campaigns can be exceptionally, and perhaps even prohibitively costly. These efforts require precision, and precision comes with a financial investment. So, can we at least know exactly how much revenue is generated through the use of these bus cards? Vodafone Fiji has poured considerable resources into promoting bus cards, so why aren’t we being told exactly how much it’s costing us? I am sure Vodafone Fiji does not provide the machines and cards for free, it’s a business investment. It is also known their annual reports have numbers and other statistics related to these e-ticketing cards, but it is not understood by every bus commuter. While Vodafone Fiji pushes for seamless digital payments, how much are they really profiting; and where does that money go? A better way to state would be: In 2017, $XXX was generated with the introduction of the e-ticketing systems and in 2018 there was an increase in revenue by $XXX, so in total, $XXX was generated. We also need to know how they have invested to improve things holistically. Only providing a digital solution does not solve the equation. We, the people, need better buses, better public transport.
Further to what I had stated earlier (FT 31/05), the e-ticketing system’s implementation, progress, and future should have been considered thoroughly. This should have only happened after a proper and formal consultation with the people. The voice of the people should be heard, and their words should be felt. The people should not be told to take steps or follow a regime; they should be asked to gather collectively, and the authorities concerned, including the responsible ministries, should allocate time to hear them precisely. The Consumer Council of Fiji, the Fijian Competition & Consumer Commission, the Land Transport Authority, and all the other responsible stakeholders should engage in such talanoa Sessions to better understand the needs of the people. Benchmarks on quantity, quality, and cost should be set for better services nationwide. The data collected should be made publicly available for the public to know and understand what others think about the most critical of all topics.
An active engagement with the public should be made mandatory, where people get to have a say. The risk of not including the people when it comes to policy-making could potentially lead to a lack of trust, confusion, or missed opportunities for improvement. It is high time that the equation needs to be balanced; the voices of the people must be heard; and their concerns must be felt. Without this, the very foundation of democracy and progress is at risk.
We live in a tropical country where rain is expected, so at the very least, we should have buses with fully operational glass windows. At least 10-25 per cent of all the buses on the roads should be brand new, as we say in Fiji, “firm out.” Fiji should no longer be a dumping ground for rejected transport from other countries. The time has come for a fleet that meets the needs of the people, not a stopgap solution. More buses should be made available per route so that passengers do not continue to stand, particularly during peak hours. With certain areas having more commuters at certain times of the day, there should be additional public transport available to ensure the comfort and safety of everyone. Considering the condition of some roads, the standing passengers could potentially be thrown out of the curtain windows. This is not only uncomfortable but extremely dangerous.
With the announcement of the next budget just under three weeks away, the stakes have never been higher. It is absolutely vital that the people’s voices are not only heard, but truly listened to. This is not just a matter of policy, this is about people’s lives, their livelihoods, and their futures. If the government is truly committed to serving its people, then the time to act is now. It would be a breath of fresh air, a glimmer of hope, if the cost of travel could be reduced, even if only temporarily, until we reach a point where roads are safer and public transport is accessible and reliable for everyone. For the commuters, the families, the farmers, and the students who rely on buses daily, this isn’t just about convenience; it’s about dignity, equity, and ensuring that no one gets left behind.
