Shore Buses has condemned a stone-throwing incident involving one of its buses near the Nadonumai Roundabout, warning that such behaviour could have resulted in serious injury or loss of life.
In a statement posted on social media, the company said the incident occurred at around 7:00pm on Thursday, when a group of young boys allegedly threw stones at a bus travelling through the area.
The company said the stones narrowly missed the driver and, fortunately, no passengers or staff were injured.
“By God’s grace, no passengers or our bus driver were injured,” the statement said.
Shore Buses believes the attacks may be linked to some youths becoming upset after being refused travel because they did not pay the required fare.
“This type of behaviour is believed to be happening because some youths become upset when they are not allowed to board the bus without paying their bus fare.”
The company stressed that all passengers are required to pay the fare, noting that the adult fare from Nadonumai to Suva is $1.25.
“Let us be clear: everyone must pay the required fare to travel.”
Shore Buses appealed directly to young people in the area to stop targeting public transport.
“To the young youths of Nadonumai, please STOP stoning buses. This is extremely dangerous and could seriously injure or even kill someone.”
The company also urged those responsible to consider the potential consequences of their actions.
“What if your mother, father, grandparents, brothers, sisters or friends were inside that bus and those stones hit them? Would you want that to happen?”
Shore Buses has called on parents, guardians, community leaders and residents to speak with young people about the dangers of such behaviour, saying attacks on buses place innocent lives at risk and damage public property.
