The General Secretary of the Fiji Taxi Association has today come out and said that females in the country who catch taxis should dress up in a presentable manner to avoid harassment or abuse by some taxi drivers.
While speaking on a talkback on our sister station, Radio Sargam earlier this week, Rishi Ram said females should understand this and change.
Fijivillage contacted him today and asked him whether he stands by this comment.
We asked the Fiji Taxi Association General Secretary what he meant by females dressing up in a presentable manner.
Fijivillage then asked Rishi Ram why the taxi association is telling female passengers how to dress up and he said it is human nature that taxi drivers will be distracted by short skirts and it will result in harassment.
Ram’s comments also follow the statements made by the Emerging Leaders Alumni last week about the continuing and increasing number of cases of harassment and abuse of females by PSV drivers.
12 female passengers spoke about their ordeal of being sexually harassed by PSV drivers, mainly taxi drivers.
An emotional USP student of Nasinu, Lusiana Valu said she was harassed when she was in class one however she is still living with the trauma.
When we asked Ram about this particular incident, Rishi Ram raised this question.
Upon questioning, Ram has admitted that there are cases of sexual harassment involving taxi drivers and he said the Land Transport Authority makes the final decision on such cases.
LTA said they will now work closely with the Emerging Leaders Forum Alumni to see that sexual harassment stops.
Fijivillage took to the streets in the last hour and asked the people what they think of the Fiji Taxi Association General Secretary's comments on women to change the way they dress up to avoid harassment.
Majority of the people interviewed say Ram, all the taxi owners and the taxi drivers should just provide the public service in the appropriate manner.
Stay with Fijivillage, we will have more on this issue later this afternoon.
Story by: Vijay Narayan, Sneh Chaudhry, Watisoni Butabua and Rusiate Baleilevuka
Feature
Avoid harassment by not wearing short skirts – Rishi Ram
