Taxi Drivers More Alert To Night Operation

After a spate of violent robberies targeting taxis at night within the Suva to Nausori corridor, fewer drivers are now choosing to drive at night.

Even cabs, which operate out of base via phone calls, are also playing it by the ear. Base operators only tend to call if they are coming from regulars or venues where they can go back to.

Sanjay Kumar, a taxi owner who drives himself, said he had stopped operating after 8pm.

“No taxi jobs in the night for me. That little extra money is not worth my life,” he said.

Peceli Kikau, who drives from a base in Raiwaqa, said he was careful and selec­tive when attending to night calls.

“I trust my operator to send me on runs which are safe. You never know who is out there and what is their intention. It is Christmas time and some people are looking for easy money,” he said.

Fiji Taxi Association President Ra­ben Singh has called on Police for more checkpoints and to have ways for drivers to flag Police if they believe their passen­gers are planning something.

Police, in response, have said they would step up operations. Police Chief of Oper­ation acting Commissioner of Police Ma­retino Qiolevu said they would be ramp­ing up their public safety operations.

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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