Dialogue Fiji has warned that a recent decision by the Land Transport Authority to halt the buying and selling of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) permits amounts to government interference with established property rights and could undermine investor confidence across Fiji. In a statement, the civil society group said the move contradicts existing legislation that recognises PSV permits as transferable personal property and allows them to be used as collateral.
Dialogue Fiji pointed to Section 65A of the Land Transport Act 1998 and the Personal Property Securities Act 2017 to argue that PSV permits are no longer mere licences but have become real assets that can be bought, financed and traded. “This is not just a licence anymore. The law turned PSV permits into real assets that people could buy, finance and invest in,” Dialogue Fiji executive director Nilesh Lal said, framing the LTA’s action as a sudden reversal of long-standing legal and commercial expectations.
Lal warned the abrupt restriction effectively strips permit holders of a core attribute of ownership — the ability to transfer or sell — and could have immediate economic and legal consequences. He noted many Fijians had lawfully purchased permits, used them as collateral to secure loans and regarded them as long-term investments supporting family livelihoods. “These are hardworking, law‑abiding citizens who trusted the legal system… and now the rules have been changed on them overnight,” Lal said.
The organisation said the ban risks sharply reducing the market value of permits and jeopardising their role as security against borrowing, with wider implications for small-scale investors and operators in the passenger transport sector. Dialogue Fiji also criticised what it described as the absence of meaningful stakeholder engagement and transition measures, arguing that reforms affecting property rights should be accompanied by consultation, impact assessments and clear transitional arrangements.
“This sends a chilling message to every investor in Fiji,” Lal added, calling on authorities to ensure any regulatory changes are implemented in a fair, lawful and predictable manner to protect confidence in the country’s legal and economic systems. Dialogue Fiji’s statement urges the government and the Land Transport Authority to engage with permit holders, financial institutions and other stakeholders before finalising or enforcing restrictions that alter the status of PSV permits.
The organisation’s intervention is the latest development in a debate over the status of PSV permits and regulatory oversight of public transport services. By invoking specific provisions of the Land Transport Act and the Personal Property Securities Act, Dialogue Fiji has signalled a potential legal battleground should affected permit holders or lenders challenge the LTA’s decision. The statement did not outline immediate legal action but emphasised the need for transparent, consultative policy-making to avoid undermining trust in Fiji’s investment environment.
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