THE Fiji Taxi Association is calling on the Land Transport Authority to clearly outline its plans following Government’s decision to lift the freeze on Licensed Taxi (LT) permits and transition from the open taxi rank system (OTRS) to the base and stand system.
Association national president Mohammed Faiyaz said the industry needed transparency on how many new permits would be issued and where they would be allocated.
“We would like to know how many new permits will be issued, and in which areas,” Mr Faiyaz said.
“Before taxi permits were issued for rural areas but they are operating in town and cities and not serving the community where they were issued for,” he claimed.
He claimed that some permits initially allocated for rural areas were later transferred to urban centres, leaving rural communities underserved. He stressed that the implementation of taxi bases should be prioritised before new permits were issued.
“This is to ensure that it’s fair with taxi operators already in the industry.
“No taxi permit should be issued in Nadi and Lautoka as there are zone taxis. These zone taxis should have their base.
“Some taxi operators use taxi as personal use and park at workplace and some are given on hire. It should be given to those who are in need.”
Mr Faiyaz said Fiji Taxi Association had no objection on the Government plans but wanted more consultation on the issue before the issuance of new taxi permits.
Questions sent to the Land Transport Authority remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
