The President of the Fiji Bus Operators Association, Richard Lal, has expressed the association’s need for increased accountability from the chief executive of the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC). Lal responded to claims made by acting FCCC CEO Pranil Singh, who suggested that the association was personalizing its issues with the regulator. According to Lal, their concerns are not personal; rather, they are calling for the responsible official, CEO Joel Abraham, to fulfill decisions he has previously made.
“It is essential for executives like Mr. Joel Abraham to provide explanations for his decisions and reversals, as these matter significantly to the entire industry,” Lal stated. Singh recently addressed a two-week-old FBOA news release demanding Abraham’s resignation due to delays in implementing agreed-upon decisions.
Lal pointed out that one of the issues raised in the FBOA’s release, concerning the school bus fare subsidy, had already seen Cabinet approval earlier this week. However, he highlighted that another issue regarding a VAT adjustment error involving the Land Transport Authority remains unresolved. This error, which the FCCC promised to rectify a year ago, has not been addressed, leading to substantial financial losses for the bus industry.
“This situation is about principle and professionalism. Mr. Abraham had agreed in July 2023 to fix this VAT adjustment error based on an agreement that bus operators would accept an additional transaction fee imposed by FCCC, which would go to the commission. However, operators found it morally wrong for the FCCC to charge 1 cent per transaction,” Lal explained.
He detailed that after it became clear that operators would not accept the fee, Abraham reversed his decision to correct the VAT error by the end of August. “The excuse now is that he is seeking guidance from the LTA and the Ministry of Finance. We must question why he initially agreed to these changes only to withdraw when the operators opposed the fee,” Lal challenged.
Additionally, the FBOA has lodged a complaint with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) regarding Abraham’s interactions with the association as the bus industry’s representative. Lal mentioned that Abraham’s ongoing issues with bus operators have been problematic since the FCCC was empowered to regulate bus fares.
Currently, the FBOA is pursuing legal action against the former Government concerning the inability to challenge FCCC decisions. The Coalition Government has agreed to amend legislation that prevents reviews of FCCC decisions, known as the ouster clause, which restricts citizens from contesting the commission’s determinations. Lal emphasized that in a democratic society, all citizens should be able to challenge the decisions made by statutory authorities like the FCCC.