NFP Leader claims LTA is acting against public interest

The Leader of the National Federation Party, Professor Biman Prasad says the Land Transport Authority is acting against public interest by compelling drivers to provide new personal registration details including providing or creating an email account. Professor Prasad says LTA’s threat to freeze the accounts of drivers who fail to register is intolerable.

He says how does LTA expect drivers who are not computer literate and do not have access to internet to register.

The NFP Leader has raised the question on whether LTA expects the drivers to go to an internet shop, spend money and seek help of others to register. He says this is absolute nonsense.

Professor Prasad says while LTA may say it is enforcing Section 5(2)(c) of the Land Transport (Traffic Infringement Notice) Regulations of March 2017, LTA must consider the practicality of such laws, especially at a time when everyone is struggling to earn a decent livelihood and support their families.

He says LTA’s expatriate CEO, who is earning a fat salary, is seemingly oblivious to the acute difficulties he is creating for drivers with both his decisions – the email registrations and the closure of some LTA branches.

The NFP Leader is urging the Minister for Transport to immediately reverse these decisions in the public interest.

Meanwhile LTA has changed its process where it had said that LTA customers will need to create an email account and register with the LTA or download and activate the LTA phone app by 18th May this year.

It says LTA customers do not need to download and print off forms and now only need to send an email to online@lta.com.fj which should contain the name, driver licence number, tax identification number and mobile number.

It says a confirmed email will then be delivered to LTA customers email address confirming that they have successfully been registered.

The LTA says members of the community who live in remote areas can visit LTA Office and the staff will register them.

CEO, Samuel Simpson says they will also be sending out registration teams to major Fijian employers and to main centres of Civil Service to registered customers.