Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum urged the Fiji Bus Operators Association to make travelling in buses more attractive for the Fijian people

No student should be asked to disembark from a bus in the event of them losing their e-ticketing cards.

This was made clear to the Fiji Bus Operators Association by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum briefed the association members from around the country during their meeting with Vodafone Fiji chief executive officer/managing director  Pradeep Lal yesterday.

The meeting was held to streamline the processes for the re-introduction of e-ticketing in buses with Vodafone Fiji being the sole provider of the service.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also urged the association to make travelling in buses more attractive for the Fijian people.

He told the association members that their own family members would not want to travel in buses in Fiji but, would happily do so in Sydney or Auckland.

This perception of travelling in buses needed to change and the FijiFirst Government’s policy to reduce duty on new buses was geared towards enabling operators investing in newer buses.

He had also asked Vodafone and the association to consider having cards for tourists who could use it for their local travel, and have the option of redeeming the unused balance.

Two cards would be made available: one for general public and one for students.

This had been done after the abuse of the bus tickets had been noted in some schools.

The Ministry of Education will also be working on this front with the association and Vodafone Fiji.

Protocols are being developed to ensure issues of what people needed to do in the event of losing their cards are sorted out.

Discussions are also taking place about senior citizens who get a concession on their bus travels.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum’s discussions were well received by the association and warmly welcomed by association acting president, Pyara Singh.

By August, e-ticketing is expected to be re-introduced in the country.

National switch:

The association also welcomed the briefing by Mr Sayed-Khaiyum on the national switch.

He met with the Association of Banks recently and next week the information technology staff from the banks and Government’s ITC will be meeting to see that the national switch is rolled out in six months time.

The national switch is an initiative through which an ATM (Automated Teller Machine) card holder of one bank will be able to withdraw money using the ATM of any banks in the country and at a much reduced fee than that of $1.50 which is being currently charged.

Edited by Caroline Ratucadra

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