Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum has rubbished claims by Fiji Taxi Association General Secretary, Rishi Ram that the lifting of the freeze in taxi permits will jeopardize the taxi industry.
The 2017/2018 budget announcement included the lifting of the freeze on these permits come January next year.
Sayed‑Khaiyum says there are several benefits for taxi owners that the government has thought of before lifting the freeze, and Rishi Ram is just playing politics.
Rishi Ram says the government should reconsider their decision to lift the freeze as there will be too many taxis on the road.
He says the issue regarding illegal taxis also needs to be addressed.
Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum says first choice will be given to those who applied for permits during the freeze period.
To decrease tax burdens on taxi operators, the fiscal import duty on second hand hybrid cars for taxi businesses has been reduced to half for the next two years. This will apply to taxi operators who have only one taxi.
