PEOPLE holding dual citizenship can legally operate taxi businesses in Fiji, provided they remain Fijian citizens and meet the country’s residency requirements, says Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
Responding to Opposition MP Premila Kumar in Parliament yesterday, Ro Filipe said eligibility was governed by the Land Transport Public Service Vehicle Regulations 2000, as amended.
“Under the regulation, a taxi permit issued to an individual is subject to the condition that the permit holder must be a Fijian citizen, a person who ordinarily resides in Fiji,” he said.
Ro Filipe said the Citizenship Act 2009 allowed citizenship through registration or naturalisation, meaning dual citizenship did not automatically disqualify a person from holding a taxi permit.
“The critical issue is not dual citizen, it’s citizenship itself.
“The determinant factors are whether the permit holder is a Fijian citizen and whether the person ordinarily resides in Fiji for an aggregate period of less than six months within any 12-month period.”
Mr Tuisawau warned that if a permit holder migrated overseas or no longer met the ordinary residency requirement, the Land Transport Authority could review their eligibility and take regulatory action.
“Dual citizenship does not automatically disqualify a person from holding a taxi permit, however permit holders must satisfy the citizenship and residency requirements.”
