Cash is King: Fiji's Bus Transport System Needs Payment Diversity

In the rush to modernise Fiji's public transport system, we've created a divide that leaves many stranded – literally. The recent chaos at Suva Bus Stand, where hundreds of commuters were left unable to travel home due to e-transport payment system failures, highlights this fundamental flaw in our e-transportation approach.

The Reality of Fiji's Geography

Unlike compact countries like Singapore, Fiji spans over 330 islands across 18,300 square kilometers. Our geography presents unique challenges that a one-size-fits-all digital payment system cannot adequately address. While urban centers may (sometimes) enjoy reliable connectivity, many rural and maritime areas experience frequent network disruptions or have no coverage at all.

The recent network connectivity failures affecting Vodafone's point-of-sale terminals demonstrate this. When the system went down, hundreds of people were left stranded in the rain, unable to top up their e-transport cards. Despite Vodafone's assurances that the issue was "resolved later in the evening," the damage was done – people couldn't get home.

The Hidden Cost of Waiting

When systems fail, the cost isn't just measured in missed bus rides – it's measured in lost time and opportunity. Every hour spent waiting in line to top up a card or stranded at a bus stand is an hour that could have been spent exercising, tending to gardens, preparing nutritious meals for families, or being productive at work or school.

These hours add up. For a working parent, time lost to payment system failures might mean a dinner not cooked, homework not supervised, or a child's sports game missed. For an elderly person, it might mean medication taken late or a doctor's appointment missed. For a student, it might mean study time lost or a class missed. The opportunity cost of these system failures falls disproportionately on those who can least afford to waste time – the very people who rely most heavily on public transport.

And we wonder why health and education outcomes are falling!

The current e-transport system doesn't just create a digital divide – it exacerbates the social divide between those who ride buses and those who don't. When we design systems that work reliably only for the digitally connected, we tell bus riders that their time and needs matter less than those of private vehicle owners.

A truly inclusive transport system must work for everyone: our children heading to school, our elderly visiting doctors, those in rural areas connecting to urban centers, and those in urban areas going about their daily lives. The current system, with its lack of sufficient payment alternatives, fails this basic test of inclusivity – EFTPOS is not readily available and has the same constraints.

Balancing Business Interests with Public Needs

It's important to acknowledge that bus companies have legitimate reasons for supporting the e-ticketing system. The digital payment infrastructure helps prevent employee fraud, provides better accounting, and potentially streamlines operations. These are valid business concerns that deserve consideration.

However, we must balance these corporate interests against the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on buses daily – including commuters, potential travellers, and tourists. A system that works well for bus companies but fails to serve a significant portion of its intended users cannot be considered successful. When system failures leave hundreds stranded in the rain, it's clear that the current balance heavily favours corporate interests at the expense of public needs.

The MPAiSA Monopoly?

Currently, the e-Transport Mobile App can only be topped up through MPAiSA. This limitation forces commuters into a single payment channel, removing choice. When that single point fails, as we've seen repeatedly, the consequences are severe. Bus drivers refusing to accept cash payments compound the problem, leaving people with no alternative means to reach their destinations. This isn't just inconvenient – it's a failure of our transport system's primary purpose: to move people reliably from point A to point B.

Punishing the Victims: Unfair Fines and Compassion Criminalised

Perhaps the most unjust aspect of the current system is how it punishes the very people it fails to serve. According to published reports, the Land Transport Authority in 2019 collected a staggering $190,500 in fines from 1,270 bus passengers over just a seven-month period for breaching e-ticketing regulations. $150 fines are a significant sum for many Fijians.

This punitive approach is grossly unfair, especially when the system itself is unreliable. When top-up facilities are unavailable, when the app doesn't work on certain phones, or when network connectivity fails, passengers are left with an impossible choice: miss their bus or risk a fine that many cannot afford to pay.

The Regulations enforcement focus ignores the fundamental reality that the system itself is not consistently accessible or functional. Fining people $150 for not using a system that repeatedly fails them is not just unfair – it's a form of systemic injustice that disproportionately impacts those with the least resources and alternatives.

Even more troubling is how the system punishes acts of compassion. Under the Electronic Fare Ticketing Act 2014, bus drivers who take pity on students who may have misplaced their cards can themselves be fined. The law effectively criminalises human kindness, forcing drivers to choose between following rigid regulations and helping a child in need.

This creates a chilling effect where drivers, fearing penalties, must turn away vulnerable passengers – including children and the elderly – even in situations where common sense and basic humanity would dictate otherwise. A system that punishes compassion is fundamentally flawed and contrary to our intrinsic Fijian value of community care and support.

The Digital Divide is Real

The push toward digital-only solutions assumes universal smartphone ownership, technological literacy, and reliable internet access – assumptions that don't hold true across Fiji's diverse population. Many elderly citizens, low-income families, and residents of remote areas face significant barriers to digital inclusion.

Even for those with smartphones, the e-Transport app presents challenges. As reported, "some people gave us proof that they could not find it on the App Store while some had a message saying this item is not available in the country." If the app itself isn't universally accessible, how can it be the only payment option?

Vodafone's planned introduction of QR payments on buses raises additional concerns. While QR technology works well in areas with stable, high-speed internet, its reliability in Fiji's varied connectivity landscape remains questionable. When asked whether internet connectivity will be required for QR payments, Vodafone provided no clear answer, stating only that "the QR system is still in development, and specific details will be shared during the launch."

This lack of transparency about fundamental operational requirements does little to inspire confidence, especially given the recent connectivity failures.

Cash: The Universal Backup

The solution to these challenges isn't to abandon digital payment options but to allow cash as a universal backup payment method. Cash requires no internet connectivity, no smartphone, no app downloads, and no third-party payment processors. It works in remote villages just as well as in urban centers, during network outages, and for everyone regardless of technological access or literacy. By allowing cash as a payment option, we create a safety net that ensures no one is left stranded when digital systems fail.

The path forward isn't about choosing between digital innovation and traditional payment methods – it's about embracing both to create a more resilient, inclusive transport system. We need the:

1. Immediate reinstatement of cash payment options on all bus routes

2. Elimination fines for passengers unable to use e-cards due to system failures

3. Reform of regulations that punish bus drivers for showing compassion to passengers in need

4. Expansion of e-transport top-up options beyond MPAiSA

5. Development of truly offline-capable payment solutions that work without internet connectivity

6. Greater transparency about system limitations and backup plans during outages

Conclusion

Fiji's diverse geography, variable connectivity, and socioeconomic realities requires a transport payment system that works for everyone, everywhere, every time. While digital solutions offer convenience and efficiency under ideal conditions, cash provides the universal fallback that ensures no one is left behind when

those conditions aren't met. Let's not mistake digitisation for progress if it comes at the cost of accessibility and reliability. Progress means building systems that work for all of us – from schoolchildren to the elderly, from rural villagers to urban professionals – and right now, that means allowing the use of cash.

The hundreds of thousands of people who catch buses daily, including tourists and potential travellers, deserve a system that includes them. The hundreds of people left stranded in the rain at Suva Bus Stand deserve better. Their time is valuable – too precious to waste waiting for systems to work or be fixed. And they certainly shouldn't be punished with hefty fines when the system fails them. It's time to acknowledge that here, cash is king.

Story By: Concerned Citizen