Mohammed Daud, 65, has spent his whole life working as a taxi driver.
He has more than 30 years of experience in the profession.
Due to his age, he drives his taxi for a few hours each week now to avoid taking on too much work and being stressed.
He loves working as a taxi driver because it allows him to socialize with others and meet new people in every ride.
He says he still needs to work hard to provide for his loved ones.
“I have been working for over 30 years as a taxi driver and have experienced a lot,” he says.
Mr Daud lives in Nakasi with his family of seven.
With a large family to support, Daud has to ensure there is enough money to buy supplies for his loved ones.
With determination, he proves that when it comes to supporting a family, age never matters and the important thing is to stay healthy and positive.
He has never thought about retiring and resting from work yet, even though he has slowed down.
“At this age, I manage to support my family with our daily living needs, and I am strong enough to do this job and be a supportive father, husband and grandfather,” he says. He loves driving and chatting with his passengers as well as safely picking and dropping them off at their destinations.
He says he learns alot from his passengers just by communicating with them like a friend.
He also enjoys a few laughs with those he interacts with daily in his taxi.
“I earn about $300 to $400 a week, which helps me support my family’s needs. I avoid buying expensive items if there is less income, but I never lose hope of providing my family with what they need,” he says.
Daud’s advice to youths who want to become taxi drivers in the future is to remain positive and respectful towards their passengers.
He also encourages young drivers to learn road signs and traffic rules and to avoid dangerous driving, which can cause serious accidents and affect their future.
He also advises young drivers to avoid speeding so that no one gets hurt on our roads.
Meanwhile the Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau, has strongly condemned attacks on taxi drivers, emphasising that Public Service Vehicle (PSV) drivers provide an essential public transport service and should not have to put their lives and livelihoods at risk while doing their jobs.
He said taxi drivers and other PSV operators played a critical role in keeping Fiji moving, providing daily transport for thousands of people travelling to and from work, school, businesses, health services and other destinations.
“PSV drivers are working hard to earn a living while providing an essential service to the public. They should be able to do their jobs without fear that a routine passenger interaction or disagreement could place their safety, their lives or their livelihoods at risk,” he said.
He called on members of the public to refrain from unnecessary acts of violence, intimidation or other criminal behaviour towards taxi drivers and other public transport providers.
“Our PSV drivers are members of our communities. They are parents, family members and individuals working hard to provide for their families. There is absolutely no justification for violence or criminal behaviour against them,” he said.
Ro Filipe also reminded members of the public that PSV drivers are expected to provide service in accordance with the conditions of their permits and should not unlawfully refuse service to members of the public.
However, he stressed that the safety of drivers must also be taken seriously.
“While the conditions of a PSV permit require drivers to provide service to the public, drivers must also be able to exercise sound judgement when they genuinely believe that their personal safety is at risk.
“No driver should feel compelled to remain in a situation where they reasonably fear for their life or safety,” the he said.
He urged taxi drivers who encounter threatening or potentially dangerous situations to prioritise their safety, remove themselves from the situation where possible and proceed to the nearest police station or seek immediate assistance from police.
The Minister further called on passengers to treat PSV drivers with courtesy and respect and to resolve disagreements peacefully. “Public transport is a shared responsibility. We all have a role to play in ensuring our PSV drivers can carry out their work safely and return home to their families at the end of the day,” he said.
Taxi: Picture: ZAKIYA SHAINA
