FCCC Tells Taxi Association to Justify Taxi Fare Increase

There will be no review for taxi fare increase unless taxi operators show their financial records, says the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission(FCCC).

Its chief executive officer, Joel Abraham, said multiple submissions were received from the Fiji Taxi Association (FTA) requesting a fare increase.

However, members were not able to meet the criteria of making submissions which was to show their financial records.

“While their claims of cost increasing may be legitimate, they are yet to prove how these cost increases have affected them.

With the absence of the financial information of different taxi operators, it is difficult for the FCCC to ascertain what the true costs of operations are,” Mr Abraham said.

“We have said that if the Fijian public is being asked to pay an increased fare, it is only correct that taxi owners are transparent about their costs and until they can open their books, there will be no such review.”

He said the FCCC had responded to the FTA and less than one per cent of taxi operators had filed financial report submissions.

“It’s important for Fijian businesses to understand that the FCCC owes a duty of care to the Fijian people.

We have to ensure that the prices you ask the people to pay are fair and have been well scrutinised.

That includes all stakeholders, not just the Fiji Taxi Association,” he said.

Association general secretary Ashwin Lal said taxi operators’ financial records were lodged with the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority

(FRCA).

“The bus industry has fleets and can provide their financial reports, but taxis have individual operators.

We can’t go to each house to ask for their financial reports. It is lodged with FRCA for income return,” Mr Lal said.

“We have no power to ask each operator for their financial reports, we are just asking for an increase in our drop distance.”

Narayan Reddy of Waiyavi, Lautoka said a taxi fare increase would be justified.

“The country’s economy has grown, people’s wages have increased and the buying power of people has improved, so with the fuel price, the Fiji Taxi Association needs a fare increase,” he said.

“The fare increase should reflect how far we are going, not a big increase, maybe a 10 cents flagfall would help.”

Setaita Matewale of Waiyavi, Lautoka, said low income earners needed a wage increase if taxi fares were to go up.

The FRCA website states taxi operators are required to keep business records for up to seven years, register for income tax purposes, lodge an annual tax return report and pay tax if any.

The FCCC Interim Authorisation for Fares and Charges for Taxi services states the flag fall charge for Viti Levu is $2 from 6am to 9pm and $3 from 9pm to 6am; $2.30 from 6am to 9pm and $3.30 from 9pm to 6am for Vanua Levu, Ovalau and Kadavu while airport taxis flag fall

charge is $7.10.

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