MEMBERS of the public applying for new taxi permits have been warned not to pay for taxi stand letters before official taxi stands are gazetted.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) issued the warning after receiving reports that prospective applicants were paying thousands of dollars to taxi stand operators for stand letters.
LTA chief executive officer Irimaia Rokosawa said no payments should be made at this stage because the process had not yet reached that point.
“At this point in time, no one is required to pay for any taxi stand letter unless that stand has been formally gazetted. Any payments being requested or made now are outside the approved process and should be treated with extreme caution,” Mr Rokosawa said.
The LTA said the issuance of new Licensed Taxi (LT) permits was being introduced in phases, beginning with rural applications, following the lifting of the taxi permit freeze.
It said a new base and stand framework was still being finalised and taxi stand letters would only be required after the relevant taxi stands had been officially gazetted and approved.
The LTA also warned that no third party, agent or taxi stand operator could guarantee or fast-track permit approvals.
It also reminded existing taxi permit holders renewing their permits next year that a stand letter from a gazetted taxi stand would be required before September 30, 2027, as part of the renewal process.
The new eligibility criteria, including prioritising applicants from households earning $30,000 or less a year, were aimed at ensuring fairness and accountability in the taxi industry.
