The Fiji Taxi Association claims the Open Taxi Rank base system is copied from Hong Kong and will not work in Fiji.
Association secretary Ashwin Lal said they had opposed the Open Taxi Rank system previously.
“We had one consultation in 2020 and another in September 2021 when the Vodo Taxi App issue was also thrown at us,” he said.
“We objected to both back then and will continue to say no to their implementation now.”
He said they met the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on March 29 and re-iterated their objection to the open rank base system.
“We told the LTA that we have a court order from October 31, 2019 that states the LTA needs to carry out consultations on the taxi permit quota and the open base system.”
Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum announced in the Revised 2021-2022 National Budget that Fiji would do away with the base and stand system and adopt the Open Taxi Ranking System.
He said this would be the most important change in 33 years for the taxi industry.
“The “Open Taxi Rank system” is designed to ensure that service is efficient and reliable, while giving the taxi operator more opportunity,” he said.
