A FIJI Taxi Association (FTA) meeting in Lautoka yesterday ended abruptly after new permit holders and permanent taxi base operators clashed over their zones of operation.
The meeting ended prematurely after FTA, the Land Transport Authority and police officers could not contain the heated exchanges.
Police officers said the meeting had to be abandoned.
FTA said it would reschedule the meeting when both parties were able to discuss their concerns in an amicable manner.
FTA president Raben Singh said he was disappointed with how the meeting ended without any real solution.
“This issue began when new permit holders came into Lautoka City,” he said.
“Taxi base operators are concerned that their bases were being overtaken by the new drivers and from time to time, we would get reports that people were arguing.
“We were getting a lot of complaints from our taxi base operators so the meeting between both parties was to solve issues. I wanted everyone present including police and LTA officers.”
He said he understood each party’s stand on the issue.
“They both have legitimate concerns. They both have the rights to every taxi base in Lautoka.
“The issue is that taxi base operators have been paying base fees and when they leave their base, a new permit holder takes over.
“When the base owner returns, some of the new permit holders do not vacate the base like they are supposed to.
“That is when people get into fights and arguments.”
He said further discussions would be held with Government and LTA.
“We’ve already raised our concerns with Minister for Transport (Jone Usamate) in February and he assured us that they would discuss it further with LTA and police.
“We hope that something is done because our drivers are getting frustrated.”
Questions sent to the Minister for Transport remained unanswered when this edition went to press last night.
(This article was published in The Fiji Times on Friday, March 22, 2019)
