The government has stepped in to provide subsidised bus fare to 51,000 pensioners after bus operators were no longer willing to participate in the agreement with the government to keep the VAT component of bus fares and in turn not increase bus fares, while allowing Fijians with disabilities to ride for free and pensioners to ride at half price.
Attorney General and Minister for Economy says that the government believes it is incumbent upon them to afford a special level of care of those living with disabilities and our pensioners, some of the most vulnerable Fijians in our society.
Sayed-Khaiyum says that apart from letting bus operators to continue to keep the VAT component of bus fares, the government is now taking on the full cost of the initiative and are making it even more generous by allowing all pensioners in Fiji to also ride buses free of charge.
Fijivillage contacted the Fiji Bus Operators Association however we have been told that they will comment later.
The Government will top‑up the eTransport cards of all 51,000 recipients with $40 monthly allowances.
The top‑ups started this month following the launch of the Senior Citizens Week.
The government also continue to provide free fares for over 4,000 Fijians living with disabilities.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says that now government has not only able to directly fund free rides for those living with disabilities, but tens of thousands of pensioners will also have new found independence to travel more freely to visit their families, seek Government services and medical care, and carry out the day‑to‑day business of their lives with no financial burden.
The statement also says that only the initiatives beneficiaries who are pensioners and those living with disabilities should use these pre-loaded eTransport cards.
LTA will be conducting random spot checks for misuse of the system and those falsely bearing another Fijian's eTransport card, which are clearly marked will be penalised.
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