The Fiji Bus Operators Association has expressed strong support for the Government’s decision to subsidize bus fares for students, effective September 1, 2024. In a statement, FBOA President Richard Lal highlighted that for over 50 years, bus operators have covered 50 percent of student bus fares, a burden not placed on other privatized service industries.
Lal thanked Cabinet for being amenable to discussions that led to this resolution. He noted that the Government will now cover the remaining 50 percent of fares for students utilizing blue and yellow bus cards. This decision comes after a review by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, which established a new fare calculation methodology aimed at standardizing fares for all bus riders.
The FBOA acknowledged the government’s need to navigate national priorities within financial limits, praising this initiative as a positive step. Lal emphasized the bus industry’s crucial role in Fiji’s economy, serving as the primary mode of transportation for countless residents.
He pointed out the significant cost increases and service expectations faced by the industry over the years, which have been met with minimal government support despite strict regulatory oversight. Lal further remarked that the bus sector has uniquely been tasked with providing a social support service for school children through subsidized fares, even amid rising operational costs over the past fifty years.