The Ministry of Education permanent secretary Selina Kuruleca appears to be misinformed regarding the electronic ticketing system, and the procurement processes for that new system, says Fiji Bus Operators Association (FBOA) president Richard Lal.
Responding to Ms Kuruleca’s statement during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Welfare meeting recently when she said “bus operators are supposed to upkeep the e-ticketing machines in partnership with Vodafone”, Mr Lal said there was minimal consultations to set up the system.
“A five-year contractual agreement was made with Vodafone in 2017, which was then extended through a mutual agreement in 2022 due to the elections period, and that a formal notification was then sent to Vodafone by the government in May, 2024 as the approved vendor for the e-ticketing system,” said Mr Lal.
“When the e-ticketing system was introduced in 2017, there was minimal consultation with and between bus operators and stakeholders, and the process was rushed to roll out.
“In this process for a new e-ticketing system provider, the Coalition Government, especially through Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, has included bus operators in the important role of helping shape the terms of reference on which a new ticketing system is to be based, and were part of the Government Tender Committee.”
He said that in 2022 the contract with Vodafone was extended before a new system could be commissioned.
“Vodafone had formally written to the bus operators and the government advising that the current system was nearing its end-of-life and must be replaced with a new system for a smooth transition,” he said.
“After the change in government, bus operators took the responsibility for the shape and form the new e-ticketing system would take.
“Having finalised the terms of reference (TOR), a call for expressions of interest was made in November, 2023, seeking proposals from prospective e-ticketing solution providers through a government tender process.
“After a thorough and transparent evaluation process by an independent panel, Vodafone Fiji was once again selected as the vendor to provide e-ticketing system 2.0.
“Vodafone Fiji has already begun the procurement of the required hardware and software to deliver the new system as per the requirements.”
He said a project implementation committee comprising key stakeholders and government representatives has been formed to get the project rolling by ensuring all stakeholders play their part in the timely delivery of a better and more modern e-ticketing system for the travelling public.
“We would like to clarify for the PS that the procurement process for this tender has been transparently conducted and awarded – and any interference at this stage would not be taken lightly as bus operators are looking forward to rolling out the new system without further delay.”
The first meeting between the bus operators, Vodafone and Land the Transport Authority was held this week to outline the roll-out.
