LAUTOKA taxi operators are urging regulators to freeze current fares, warning that planned reductions will trigger unsustainable recalibration costs alongside rising maintenance expenses.
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) announced that interim fare adjustments introduced on July 1, 2026, to absorb surging global fuel prices, would expire on September 30. From October 1, fares will revert to previous rates, forcing every taxi meter nationwide to be reprogrammed.
Duiyasana Taxis and Tours Cooperative Ltd chairman Rupeni Tabutabu pleaded with authorities to maintain the current rate of $2.14 per 100 metres rather than reverting to $2.10.
“We are pleading with the Government and FCCC if the fare can remain at $2.14 per 100 metres,” he said.
“Don’t just look at the fuel because definitely every month fuel prices fluctuate.”
Mr Tabutabu highlighted that technicians charge up to $50 per meter calibration, creating a heavy recurring burden for operators who paid for reprogramming just weeks ago.
“So when we calibrate the meter, Safeway Electronics is charging $55, another company is charging $50.
“But we will survive if the fare remains at $2.14.”
FCCC’s chief executive officer Jiuta Senikavika defended the temporary measure, saying the regulator must balance consumer protection with industry viability while monitoring global economic shifts.
