Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica has rejected claims that local company SOLE Fintech was excluded from the e-ticketing process for Fiji’s new bus ticketing system, saying the company was not part of the independent tender that awarded the contract to Vodafone.
Kamikamica’s comments were made in response to a Facebook post by SOLE Fintech founder Semi Tukana, who said his firm was still awaiting a bus e-ticketing licence from Permanent Secretary for Trade Shaheen Ali and warned the rollout had “escalated to a disaster.” Tukana asked authorities to give SOLE Fintech “a chance” to compete and help the roughly 250,000 daily bus users he said are affected.
Calling Tukana’s remarks “quite disappointing,” Kamikamica said the e-ticketing contract resulted from a formal tender process and that the government cannot reverse or reopen tenders while procurement is under way. He acknowledged that large information systems often experience teething problems and stressed the scale of the rollout — which covers a substantial portion of the country — makes some issues likely during implementation.
Kamikamica urged commuters experiencing problems with the new system to contact Vodafone directly on the company’s toll-free line, 151, so issues can be logged and addressed rather than being aired only through media channels.
Context and related developments
– Vodafone was selected through the tender process to implement the upgraded e-ticketing system, a decision the government has repeatedly defended as the result of an independent procurement process.
– The rollout has prompted public complaints about card upgrades, long queues and service interruptions. Government and Vodafone officials have held meetings to address customer service shortfalls, and Vodafone has publicly committed to boosting resources at outlets, exploring larger venues for registrations and improving arrangements for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities.
What this means for commuters
– Officials say problems should be reported through formal channels (Vodafone’s hotline and the Consumer Council) so they can be investigated and resolved.
– Government and Vodafone officials have framed the issues as part of the transition to a large digital system, and have signalled ongoing coordination to improve the registration and top-up process.
Additional comments and explanation
– Tender integrity: Reopening or reversing a concluded tender risks undermining procurement transparency and can delay entire projects; that is why Kamikamica emphasised adherence to the existing tender outcome.
– Technical reality: Large-scale IT deployments commonly experience operational issues early on; logging problems formally (with time, location and transaction details) helps providers diagnose faults and protect consumers.
– Practical steps for commuters: keep receipts or screenshots of top-ups, report lost or malfunctioning cards promptly, use provided hotlines and, where available, seek help from the Consumer Council to escalate unresolved complaints.
Hopeful outlook
While the transition has been rocky and public frustration is understandable, government and Vodafone engagement, along with commitments to increase resources and improve customer service, provide a pathway to stabilising the system. If issues are logged formally and addressed systematically, the rollout can still deliver the intended benefits of safer, more modern public-transport payments for Fijians.
Brief summary
Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica said SOLE Fintech was not part of the tender for Fiji’s e-ticketing contract (awarded to Vodafone) and urged commuters with problems to contact Vodafone’s toll-free number (151). SOLE’s founder had criticised the rollout as a “disaster” and requested a chance to compete. Officials acknowledge teething issues with the nationwide system and are working with Vodafone to address service problems.
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