The President of the Fiji Bus Operators Association (FBOA), Richard Lal, has stated that the association has legitimate grounds for demanding greater accountability from the chief executive of the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC), which oversees the industry.
Lal challenged claims made by acting FCCC chief executive Pranil Singh, who suggested that the FBOA was personalizing its issues with the regulator. Lal emphasized that their call for accountability is not personal, but a request for the executive to implement previously made decisions that affect the industry.
“It is essential for leaders like Mr. Joel Abraham to clarify the reasoning behind his decisions, as they influence the entire industry,” Lal asserted. Singh recently responded to a news release from the FBOA, which called for Abraham’s resignation over delays in the execution of agreed-upon decisions.
Lal pointed out that Singh’s comments were outdated; one issue he addressed, the school bus fare subsidy, was resolved by the Cabinet on Tuesday. However, a significant issue still pending is the VAT adjustment error acknowledged by the previous regulator, the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Lal noted that the FCCC had accepted the responsibility for correcting this error a year ago but later reneged on that commitment, which has cost the bus industry millions.
“This is about principle and professionalism. Mr. Abraham agreed in July 2023 to amend the VAT adjustment error in bus fares, under the condition that bus operators would accept a transaction fee imposed by the FCCC on top of regular ticket processing charges. This fee was to be directed to the FCCC,” Lal explained.
Bus operators found the imposition of a 1 cent transaction fee morally unacceptable, leading to a refusal of the condition. Following this opposition, Abraham reversed his decision to correct the VAT error by August 2023.
Lal questioned Abraham’s current rationale for the delay, which he attributes to seeking clarification from the LTA and the Ministry of Finance. “Why agree to these changes in July only to backtrack once bus operators challenged the fee?” he asked.
The FBOA has lodged a complaint with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) and reached out to the FCCC chair regarding Abraham’s engagement with the association, which represents bus operators. Lal indicated that Abraham’s ongoing difficulties in dealing with bus operators, particularly concerning straightforward adjustments to long-standing issues, have prompted this complaint.
Additionally, the FBOA is pursuing legal action against the previous Government for the inability to appeal FCCC decisions. The current Coalition Government has consented to amend the FCCC legislation, removing a clause that prevents any review of its decisions. This provision, known as the ouster clause, prohibits the challenge of FCCC rulings, regardless of their fairness.
Lal concluded by emphasizing that all citizens should retain the right to dispute the decisions of regulatory bodies like the FCCC, reflecting the values of a democratic society.