The Fiji Taxi Association says it has written to the Minister for Transport Parveen Bala for a taxi fare increase.
General Secretary, Rishi Ram says the last taxi fare increase was done on 7th November, 2011 where a Deed of Agreement was signed between the Government and the officials of Fiji Taxi Association.
Ram says as per the said agreement, they had agreed that no application shall be made for any increase in the taxi fare for the next four years from the date of the agreement unless the world price of crude oil exceeds US$155 per barrel, at any time in the next four years.
The Taxi Association says that the deadline has passed, and they need a taxi fare increase due to high operational costs.
Ram says they want the drop distance be increased to 15c for every 100 metres compared to the current 10c for 100 metres.
He says with the 15c per 100 metres fare, the fare will be $3 for the 1st kilometre compared to the current $2.50, it will be $4.50 for the 2nd kilometre compared to the current $3.50, and $6.00 for the 3rd kilometre compared to the current $4.50.
The Taxi Association proposes that all the other taxi tariffs remain the same as well as the Deed of Agreement.
When contacted by Fijivillage, Minister for Transport, Parveen
Bala said that this is news to him and he is surprised that Rishi Ram is saying that he has written a letter to him.
Bala says that he has not received anything from Ram.
