Bula
Three stories make the front page of The Fiji Times for Thursday, June 5.
Big News: Fiji’s maritime sector is under fire as safety fears and compliance breaches surge across its shipping industry. From a passenger vessel running aground in remote Lau waters, to a high speed ferry stuck at Suva Wharf over regulatory red flags, the spotlight is now firmly on the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). CEO Joeli Cawaki has admitted the authority is years behind on investigating shipping incidents. Full reports on Pages 2-3.
Inside: News/Letters to the editor/ People/ Business/ International News/ Comics/ Crossword/ Horoscope/ Classifieds/ Sports.
Synopsis
It seems the e-ticketing system is frustrating consumers! And as consumers vent their frustration publicly, the Consumer Council of Fiji has called for immediate action from stakeholders involved in the administration of the system.
CEO Seema Shandil made no bones about the fact that consumers were struggling with a system that was supposed to make lives easier.
In fact when it was initially rolled out, the perception was that the mechanics would be easy to understand, and the system easy to use!
Now Ms Shandil believes the discontinuation of disposable cards has left many consumers without a back-up option during emergencies, and commuters, she said, have reported being left behind when bus drivers refuse to accept other forms of payment during system outages.
Obviously, she had to question the reliability of the e-transport system that was first rolled out in 2017.
Consumers were struggling with the system, she said, when it was supposed to make their lives easier.
“While we fully support the growing digital economy and our collective move towards a cashless society, we cannot ignore the challenges faced by ordinary people in accessing this basic service.
“When the system fails, it doesn’t just inconvenience people, it disrupts livelihoods. What alternatives are commuters supposed to rely on when the system fails?”
She does raise another important point, about the disproportionate impact the system had on elderly passengers and rural communities.
“This is not the first-time concerns about e-ticketing have been raised, however, the council now considers the situation urgent and unacceptable and is calling for a national review of the system’s effectiveness and fairness,” she said.
So here again, we say, any system that is implemented, must be easy to understand, and easy to use.
As we have said above, any technological system designed for the public must be intuitive, widely compatible, and easy to use.
We are saying this because it affects something as essential as daily transport.
Again, we say, it must work on all types of mobile phones, be easily accessible for people in remote areas, and support simple, widely available options for top-ups and updates.
Consumers need to be informed about updates, system improvements, and their options in case of outages or emergencies. Let’s face it, clear, consistent communication will go a long way in preventing frustration and confusion.
And while we are at it, a digital solution is only as effective as its accessibility. So if consumers cannot use it with ease, or worse, are left stranded because of it, then the system fails its purpose. Surely we can talk about this, and work out solutions! Cash payments perhaps as an option?
