Members of the Labasa Taxi Association are urging local authorities and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to take action against illegal taxi operators, commonly referred to as ‘pirates,’ who use private vehicles for transportation.
Association Secretary Sujit Sharma has expressed concerns that these illicit operators are detracting from the income of legitimate taxi drivers. He noted that these illegal services tend to operate at night to evade detection by the LTA and police.
With the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North taking place at Subrail Park in Labasa, the visibility of pirate taxis has increased. Sharma advised customers to reconsider using these vehicles, emphasizing that they do not have legitimate fare meters.
He warned that choosing to travel in illegal taxis poses safety risks and supports an unlawful operation. Sharma highlighted the growing number of pirate taxis in recent years, attributing this trend to more people owning cars.
Daily taxi commuter Reshmi Wati stated her preference for legal taxi services, citing concerns over safety with unlicensed drivers. She pointed out that licensed taxi drivers are accountable for the safety of their passengers, a responsibility that pirate drivers lack.
Moreover, Sharma called on the LTA and police to monitor for potential drug trafficking activities among drivers, particularly young ones seeking quick financial gains without much effort.