LTA, Police, Rental Cars Body To Work Together

The Police and Land Trans­port Authority have agreed to work with the Fiji Rental Car Association.

This was after concerns were raised by the association claiming that most complaints being lodged by the members to the Police were not taken into account.

Association president Rajesh Ku­mar said they hosted a Talanoa ses­sion in Nadi last week to discuss is­sues the members were facing.

“The main issue our members from the West have raised is the relationship between association members and the Police. We would like to work in an environment where both parties, the Police and the LTA, assist the players in the rental industry.

“One of the main concerns that we have is the lack of response from the Police in assisting our members in the West.

“We would like to clarify these issues with the members, what we should do and what the Police should be doing to assist us,” he added.

The Divisional Police Commander West Senior Superintendent Surend Sami said Police were obliged to serve the community and would investigate cases depending on its particular circumstances.

“The Police are available to serve the members of the com­munity, nothing more or nothing less,whether there is a partnership or there is no partnership. Our main purpose is to serve,” said Mr Sami.

“The Police force is obliged to re­ceive complaints and to investigate it. Not all complaints are investi­gated on the same merit; different complaints are investigated in a dif­ferent manner,” he said.

Land Transport Officer represent­ative Inoke Turamanu reiterated that the FRCA members had certain policies that have been put in place by the authority.

Mr Turamanu said, “When you have a provisional licence you can also drive a rental vehicle. It is the rental owner’s responsibility; if he/she knows that it is unsafe for them to give their rental to a provisional licence holder, then don’t give it.

The onus is on them.”

“We only have the power to check or demand the licence and the reg­istration on the road, but the third party, who is driving the rental without the concern of the rental owner that is just between the own­er and the client,” he added.

Edited by Susana Tuilau