Members of the Labasa Taxi Association are urging authorities and the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to take action against illegal operators known as ‘Pirates’ who use private vehicles for transport. They are also calling on police to intensify their efforts to combat the illicit drug trade.
Sujit Sharma, the association’s secretary, stated that these illegal operators are taking away income from legitimate taxi drivers. He pointed out that they tend to operate at night to evade law enforcement.
With the Vodafone Festival of the Friendly North taking place at Subrail Park in Labasa, the presence of pirate taxis is notably high. Sharma advised customers to think twice before choosing these unauthorized vehicles, highlighting that there is no legitimate fare meter in use.
He warned that riding in illegal taxis compromises passenger safety and contributes to the growth of this illegal trade. Sharma observed an increase in the number of pirate taxis compared to previous years, attributing this growth to more people owning cars.
Daily taxi commuter Reshmi Wati expressed her preference for legal taxis, stating, “I don’t want to sit in a taxi that can harm me because taxi drivers are legally responsible to ensure all passengers travel safely while pirate drivers have no such requirement.”
Sharma further urged the LTA and police to monitor drivers who may be involved in the illegal drug trade. He noted that younger drivers are often drawn to such activities in search of quick and easy money.