Minister for Transport to look into the issue of the Vodo app

The Fiji Taxi Association has met with the Minister of Transport Faiyaz Koya in Nadi and they have agreed that more dialogue should take place in terms of the proposed taxi app, Vodo and Koya will look into the issues raised by the association.

Association Secretary-General Ashwin Lal says they welcome the Minister's stand on the issue and he has assured them that he will look into the matter.

The Association met with their members from the Southern and Western Division at the Vunimono Community Hall to discuss ways they can highlight their plea on the impact that the Vodo app will have on the taxi industry in the country.

Some of the concerns raised about the app are the lack of consultation being done by LTA about the app before confirming the dates when the app will be implemented, the cost of the fee for using the app, the annual licence fee, the use of credit or debit or MasterCard, lodging of cash payments to FRCS, the issue of having a taxi base and the issue that customers have to pay $5 if they cancel a booking.

Lal says they have also written to the Land Transport Authority CEO and they are still waiting for a reply.

Meanwhile, President of the Nadi Airport Taxi Association Mohammed Mustaf Khan says that the app has its advantages and disadvantages but what is clear is that Fiji is not ready to accept the Vodo app.

LTA has stated the app does not take 20% of earnings from drivers and if a taxi driver earns $150 a day in taxi fares, that is what they will receive in revenue.

They say the proposed app is still at stage 1 of a procurement process and there will be consultations with all stakeholders, including taxi owners/drivers and customers, who will soon come to know how fantastic and safe the Vodo app will be.

LTA has today highlighted that they have not received any emails from the Fiji Taxi Association.