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FSC audit Cloud over sugar company P32

MEDIA SPORTS

Outcry over electronic bus fare card in Fiji

E-ticketing

or e-misery

By Priya Chand

THE issue of pilferage in the bus in-
dustry in Fiji was not a problem that
should be passed down to commuters
to deal with, says a former Governor
of the Reserve Bank of Fiji now leader
of the newly-formed Unity Fiji Party,
Savenaca Narube.
The compulsory electronic-ticketing You have to look
system came into effect in October 2017, ‘ at those who don’t
with the intention of countering pilfer-
age by bus drivers. Initially, Digicel Fiji have the income to
was part of the process but later “opted budget and factor in
out” according to reports making Voda- the cost of topping up
fone Fiji the sole manager of the system.
Requiring passengers to top up their in advance and those
cards beforehand in order to travel, the who are poor ‘
system continues to be scrutinised by
many, particularly for the burden it was
transferring onto frequent commuters. have the income to budget and factor in and that consultations with the relevant
Narube in an interview with Islands the cost of topping up in advance and stakeholders and members of the public
Business said the problematic opera- those who are poor - they only have had been ongoing since 2009, and “the
tional aspect of the business was purely money to go from point A to point B.” public was given adequate time and op-
employee to employer based. Narube further responded to views portunity to make submissions on the
Narube said the argument that proper that stated Fiji was well ahead when e-ticketing system in 2013.”
transparency in the industry would it came to “topping up smart phones” Council chief executive officer Premila
eventually lead to improved services for so the e-ticketing system was not so Kumar said the option of using check-
commuters was a theory not yet tested. different. ers/auditors as suggested by Narube
“Bus industry is like any other busi- “I’m telling them it is not a relevant was not appropriate because pilferage
ness, they provide services to people argument to begin with because top- continued even with checkers/auditors
that need it, so their operational part ping up mobiles is a choice and it’s also used by the bus operators then.
of it should really be their business,” something not made compulsory for “His idea of closed receptors would
he said. every mobile holder,” he said. mean carrying exact bus fare for each
“It’s quite clear - if you look at other “When you do choose to use your travel with no provision to give change,
industries, they don’t put the burden on phone, it’s for your own personal ben- again, this would be problematic for the
their clients to improve their efficiency.” efit and you choose to top up, and you travelling passengers to carry exact fare
He said commuters particularly the benefit – in this case, the beneficiary is for each travel.”
underprivileged segment of society not the commuter directly.” The only solution to contain pilfer-
would feel the brunt of the scheme He said an easier option could have age was to ensure money was not ex-
more – something that must have been been to use closed receptors and keep changed between the travelling public
thought through before implementing auditors and checkers instead of intro- and the bus drivers.
the system. ducing a cashless system. r priyameyou@gmail.com
“You don’t have to ask anyone, it’s “It was the cheapest option -not full
common sense - our income level is proof, but it was still a better option.”
not that high, even to generalise is not The Consumer Council of Fiji in a Continued overleaf
relevant,” he said. statement said the e-ticketing system web link:
“You have to look at those who don’t has not been implemented overnight www.islandsbusiness.com

26 Islands Business, January 2018