Richard Lal, the President of the Fiji Bus Operators Association (FBOA), has expressed the group’s valid concerns over the need for increased accountability from the chief executive of the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC). This official is responsible for overseeing the regulation of the bus industry.
Lal vehemently denied claims made by FCCC’s acting chief executive, Pranil Singh, suggesting that the FBOA is personalizing its grievances with the regulatory body. He emphasized that their call for accountability is not personal, but a necessary demand for clarity on decisions that directly affect the entire industry.
“It is essential for executives like Mr. Joel Abraham to justify his decisions and any changes he has made, as they have significant implications for the sector,” Lal stated.
In response to a recent FBOA news release that requested the resignation of Joel Abraham due to delays in executing previously agreed decisions, Singh pointed out that the article was outdated. He noted that one concern, regarding the school bus fare subsidy, was addressed by the Cabinet on Tuesday. However, Lal highlighted that another issue concerning a VAT adjustment error made by the former industry regulator, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), remains unresolved. This correction, which the FCCC had agreed to a year prior, has not been implemented.
Lal argued that the FCCC’s failure to address the VAT adjustment issue has resulted in substantial financial losses for the bus industry over the past two years, losses that are irreversible. He noted that in July 2023, Abraham had concurred to amend the VAT error based on the condition that bus operators accept a transaction fee that would be added to the standard ticketing processing charges, which he deemed morally objectionable.
“When it became evident that operators would reject the 1 cent fee, Abraham reversed his earlier agreement to amend the VAT error,” Lal remarked.
Lal questioned why Abraham, who had initially agreed to the corrections, needed to consult the LTA and Ministry of Finance after the operators opposed the transaction fee. He added that the FBOA has lodged a complaint with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) about Abraham’s interactions with the association, which represents bus operators.
He described Abraham’s prolonged negotiations with bus operators since the FCCC gained the authority to set bus fares as problematic. The recent complications regarding a simple correction of a longstanding error have raised serious concerns, prompting the complaint.
Furthermore, Lal noted that the FBOA is involved in a legal case against the previous Government, challenging the lack of ability to appeal FCCC decisions. He mentioned that the Coalition Government has agreed to amend the FCCC’s legislation to eliminate a clause preventing the review of its decisions, asserting that all citizens should have the right to contest the decisions made by statutory bodies like the FCCC in a democratic society.