Few taxi operators still servicing the Suva lockdown area - Lal

The Fiji Taxi Association has confirmed only a few taxi operators are still servicing the Suva lockdown area from today as all operators have been given the choice to decide whether they still want to continue with their services.

General Secretary Ashwin Lal says the situation is the same in the Lautoka lockdown area.

Lal says even taxis that are operating at the moment are only allowing one or two passengers during a trip.

He says people need to understand that the drivers are taking precautions because they don’t want to get COVID-19 and infect their families.

Lal says most of these drivers are already finishing early because of the curfew from 8 tonight.

Land Transport Authority CEO Samuel Simpson has made it clear that bus operators, taxi and mini bus drivers must enforce the two metres physical distance between the drivers and the passengers in their vehicles.

Simpson says the choice is with the operators, and if they cannot enforce the 2 metres distance between them and the passengers, then they must choose whether to operate or not.

He says this is being done for the safety of the Fijian public as clearly stated by the Health Ministry.

Simpson says if they do not want to be booked, they should make the choice based on their situation.