The chair of the Independent Bus Fare Committee Joel Abraham has urged bus owners to reconsider their plans to go on strike because this will negatively affect thousands of Fijians.

He said no bus fare increase could be allowed without proper review of the financials of bus operators, adding that Fiji Bus Operators Association members needed to provide proper financial justification as to why they want an increase in fare.

“It is very irresponsible of the bus owners to go on strike. They need to stop and think about the thousands of students who need buses every day, the thousands of workers that rely on buses to go to work every day and elderly and disabled persons who have no other means of transport,” said Abraham.

The industry provides a critical public service; hence an increase cannot be justified without proper analysis.

To complete the analysis, full financial information is needed. Bus owners had earlier promised to provide this information to the committee.

“We have clearly told them that we will consider their demands when they provide proper financial information, but instead they are trying to bully their way into getting an increase by holding the people of Fiji to ransom,” added Mr Abraham.

“I have always maintained that dialogue and proper analysis is the way forward.”

“No changes will be made to bus fares that will affect thousands of Fijian families, without proper justification.”

Edited by Susana Tuilau

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