Good news for thousands of residents living between Nadi town and Momi as bus services have resumed this morning.
Yesterday many students and people going to work were stranded on the roadside as Dominion Transport suspended its services and they had to look for other means of transport to reach to their destinations.
Managing Director Satya Nand confirmed that all his twenty buses are providing normal services from this morning.
Nand said after talks with Merchant Finance, Fiji Bus Operators Association and other stakeholders yesterday they have agreed to resume bus services.
Nand said yesterday that his business was running at a loss due to the high fuel prices, and while they understand the difficulties faced by the residents they had no other option but to suspend bus services as they are unable to make the payments to the bank.
Fiji Bus Operators Association president, Pyara Singh also confirms that an emergency meeting of the association will be held in Suva tomorrow on the issue as many bus operators continue to face financial difficulties.
Meanwhile, talks will continue today on their grievances and cabinet is also expected to discuss the difficulties faced by bus operators at its meeting today.
Chaudhry Warns Bus Operators 30/06/08
The Interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, has sent out a stern warning to bus operators who are stopping services in certain areas to be mindful of the fact that their licenses can be revoked.
Chaudhry is concerned that on one hand the Fiji Bus Operators Association is having meetings with the interim government to look at ways to assist the bus industry due to increasing fuel prices, and on the other hand some operators are taking matters into their own hands.
He said the interim cabinet will decide tomorrow on assistance to the bus industry and advised that everyone should wait for that.
"What I think is if they don’t service those areas they risk losing those route licences. And so far as addressing the fuel price issues and the resultant increase in bus operators operational costs, we’ve had fruitful discussions all of last week and cabinet has considered the package which the minister of works and transport will submit at its meeting tomorrow. Following from that the measures that will assist the transport industry will be announced."
Chaudhry said revoking certain route licenses will be the next step if some operators deprive the people of bus services.
"In the meantime if any bus operator decides to take action on his own, then there is a risk that he may lose his route licence. I believe that would be but it is a matter that the minister for transport will consider. But certainly they have an obligation to service they constituents in respect of with whom they have route licences. If they don’t do that, then government will have to take appropriate action against bus operators. The fact that we are talking to the Fiji Bus Operators Association and we’ve had fruitful meetings and Cabinet is considering the package in tomorrow’s meeting, I don’t see why they’re jumping the gun."
Dominion Transport Defends Decision Publish date/time: 30/06/2008 [13:06]
The owner of Dominion Transport Limited has defended his decision to suspend their bus services in the Nadi area from this morning.
Speaking to Fijivillage News, Managing Director Satya Nand said his business is running at a loss due to the high fuel prices, and while they understand the difficulties faced by the residents they have no other option as they are unable to make the payments to the bank.
Nand said they informed the LTA and the Bus Operators Association of their decision and they also realize the risk of losing their license to service the route by taking such a step.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Bus Operators Association President Pyara Singh said they are now liaising with other Bus companies to service the route.
