The Fiji Bus Operators Association strike was called off two hours after it started this morning.
Thousands of people were stranded along the roadside waiting for other modes of transport as majority of the bus companies stopped their services from 6 o’clock this morning.
Only Tebara Transport was continuing its services along the Suva/Nausori corridor while the West Bus Company was operating in the Western division.
Tebara Buses Managing Director, Arvind Maharaj said they decided to allow all of their 48 buses to continue with their services in the Nakelo, Bau, Rewa Delta and the Suva/Nausori corridor this morning.
Maharaj believes further dialogue needs to be held with the Interim Finance Minister.
"Although we feel it is not wise to stop the services, it is perhaps too hasty, there is room for dialogue – go back to the minister, go back to the Prime Minister. Explain our position. I think the timing is also very wrong. Times are very hard. Yes, we are losing money. But stopping the bus services will not achieve much. That is our opinion," Maharaj said. "We would like to challenge anybody in government – any government official - to come in and check. If there is suspicion, if they feel there is margin in the bus industry. We are claiming that there is no margin at the present time. I feel perhaps more serious dialogue is needed – we are ready to submit any figures that they wish to see."
No bus services were operating in Labasa.
A number of temporary permits were issued to carriers, mini vans and mini buses by the Land Transport Authority and people used these forms of transport from this morning if they were lucky to get one.
Then at 8 o’clock this morning the Fiji Bus Operators Association President, Pyara Singh called up Fijivillage confirming that the bus strike is over.
FijiVillage: Mr. Singh, Have you called off the bus strike this morning?
Yes. The bus strike has been called off. The executives of the Fiji Bus Operators Association have met with the interim Prime Minister and he has assured the executives that he will look into the plight of the bus operators and the bus operators will resume their services Fiji wide.
FijiVillage: What is the reason for calling off the strike. Is it because the Prime Minister has given you that assurance?
We have been assured by the Prime Minister that he will look into the matter – on that strength the bus operators have resumed services.
FijiVillage: Earlier today the interim Minister for Transport said that you got a 10% fare increase in January, a 10% subsidy on 1st July, there were also a number of rebates provided for the bus industry and that should be sufficient enough. What are your comments on that?
In fact what we have done is we’ve taken the 10% increase in busfares in January and we do not want the subsidy. One of the other reasons we have submitted is the removal of Vat from busfares. Because every student pays half the busfares and then on top of that they pay Vat. We want to see that the public do not pay the higher fares – we want Vat removed from the bus industry.
FijiVillage: Are many bus companies running on losses at the moment?
I think the bus industry is running at a loss.
FijiVillage: Not making money/profits at all?
No
