Children's future 'not a bargaining chip', says FCCC

The future of Fiji's children is not an acceptable bargaining chip.

This is the statement by Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) chief executive officer Senikavika Jiuta said after the suspension of school bus services in Taveuni left students without transport earlier this week.

The FCCC has commenced an enforcement process following Monday's suspension of scheduled school bus services by the island's bus operator.

Ms Jiuta said the disruption was unacceptable because students depended on the service to attend school.

"The future of Fiji's children is not an acceptable bargaining chip," Ms Jiuta said.

She said where a business was the only provider of an essential service, it carried a responsibility to provide reliable and continuous services to communities.

FCCC is assessing whether the suspension amounted to unconscionable conduct under Section 76 of the FCCC Act 2010.

The commission said legal action would be taken if investigations found breaches of the Act.

Meanwhile, Taveuni Buses operations manager Prakash Sami said services would resume from yesterday after FCCC assured the company it would address its concerns.

Mr Sami had earlier said the suspension was due to concerns over student fare arrangements and higher operating costs in Taveuni.

He said the company had been seeking alignment of student fare arrangements with Vanua Levu and Viti Levu, citing higher fuel costs on the island.

FCCC said its review of the bus fare application submitted by the operator was continuing separately from the enforcement process.