Taxi Owners Want Fare Review

The Fiji Taxi Association is calling for a review of the current taxi fare rate.

Association general secretary Ashwin Lal said fuel prices have gone up, vehicle maintenance costs have gone up, and road conditions worsening, but the taxi fare rate is still the same The taxi fare rate begins at $1.50.

"We really need a review of taxi fare rates," Mr Lal said.

"We have been trying to negotiate with the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), but nothing has really been done about our plea," he said.

"The road conditions are very bad, our cars are subject to very bad road conditions, and the main­tenance cost of our vehicles has gone up. The rate of repairing and maintaining our cars is get­ting higher and higher, and the car parts prices that are very high.

"The fuel prices too have gone up, and still there hasn't been any change in the taxi fare."

Mr Lal claimed that they had ap­plied for a review of taxi fares two years ago, but nothing was done.

FCCC Response

FCCC chief executive officer Joel Abraham has advised the associa­tion to provide comprehensive and transparent financial information to support their bid.

"It is crucial that any proposed fare adjustments are based on accurate and verifiable data to ensure fair­ness to both consumers and taxi op­era tors," Mr Abraham said.

"We encourage the association to work collaboratively with FCCC, providing all necessary financial details and justifications for the pro­posed fare review; to facilitate a thor­ough and informed decision-making process."

Late last year, the FCCC said no changes were approved to the cur­rent taxi fares as the association failed to provide the necessary finan­cial information.

The FCCC had said that all taxi fares were regulated under the FCCC (Control of Fares and Charges for Public Service Vehicles) Order 2023 and that the Commission deter­mined fare prices through a review process that included input from rel­evant stakeholders for submissions.

The FCCC said submissions play a crucial role in providing necessary financial data and insights from the industry, allowing the FCCC to con­duct a comprehensive review and en­sure the fairness and sustainability of taxi fares.

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