Bus operators tell Consumer Council to check facts before barking

The Fiji Bus Operators Association calls on the Consumer Council of Fiji Chairman Raman Dahia to justify his statement that is critical of the Association’s request for a fare rise.    

Association’s Acting President Nisar Ali Shah says the association recognises that it is the Consumer Council’s role to defend the interests of consumers, however they are of the view that the council cannot in good faith criticise the association’s request for a fare rise because so much has changed in the almost 10 years since the last rise was granted.

Shah says as operators of bus services, they are unable to adjust their fares whenever their costs increase because they are heavily regulated.

He says any fair‑minded person would recognise the struggles that face operators who have absorbed increases in costs for the past decade while continually upgrading their fleets and services and embracing electronic ticketing and the costs associated with it.

Shah says the Consumer Council Chairman’s call for audited financial reports from bus operators is simply a distraction since the relevant agencies such as Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, already have access to full data and reports of all bus companies in Fiji connected to the eTransport system.

He says the relevant agencies already know how much revenue is collected and the costs associated with running a bus company.

Shah also says that in recent months, there have been reports from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank highlighting the fact that Fiji has a comparatively unique bus industry since it is operated by private companies that are strictly regulated by State authorities.

He says these reports also acknowledged the low bus fares in Fiji compared to countries with a similar economic situation to Fiji.

Shah says perhaps the Consumer Council Chairman should read those reports to understand the issue before making public comments.

He says as a watchdog organisation, the Consumer Council should not just bark but also take it upon itself to educate the public about the benefits of electronic ticketing, the importance of collecting and retaining a receipt for each journey, and ensuring e‑ticketing cards are topped up.

Shah also says to reiterate what they have told political leaders who are critical of their request for a fare rise, perhaps these people should try their hand at running a bus company for a month to understand the costs involved and see if they would maintain their position against a fare rise.