Savusavu Taxi Association president Mohammed Faruk has asked for a taxi fare increase to 20 cents per a hundred metre.

Mr Faruk made this request at the Financial Year 2022-2023 National Budget Consultation at the Hot Springs Hotel in Savusavu yesterday.

He told the Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum that the last time they received an increase was ten years ago and since then it’s been ten cents per one hundred metre.

He said the continuous increase in fuel price was a major factor.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum responded that he was aware that other taxi drivers in Fiji requested for an increase and of course, there would be an increase in taxi fare.

He said currently the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) was reviewing it and it was not done by the Land Transport Authority (LTA).

As for the increase in fuel price he added that it was looked after by FCCC.

“Other issues raised by Mr Faruk was the open rank system.”

He said taxi drivers were not in rural areas providing services but they were crowded in town.

He said he wanted the drivers to operate from their own base like how it used to.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum responded: “If those taxi drivers don’t want to operate in rural areas then you can go.”

He explained that it was all about customer service and drivers needed to understand how to do business.

He reminded him that the open rank system was announced two years ago and consultations were held.

Government’s Public-Private Partnership Doctor Mohammed Ishaque is the only general practitioner in Savusavu who has registered under the Government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) where free medical services are offered for Fijians who depended on the public health system.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed this after a farmer from Buca Bay, Cakaudrove, Rusiate Finau complained that last week he visited Savusavu Medical Centre and the doctor charged him about $20 for the treatment.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum advised that Dr Ishaque had registered recently and from this week he could help the communities.

“We extended service to help people and also keep track of their health,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“We find that people only go to hospitals and health centres un- til they really get sick.”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Government had also advertised expression of interest for dentists, unfortunately no one from Vanua Levu applied.

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