The Fiji Bus Operators Association has come out and said that misleading statements should not be made about the bus industry after the Fiji Labour Party announced yesterday that they would reduce bus fares by removing VAT of 9% if they are elected to government.
Association General Secretary, Rohit Latchan says bus fares are already zero‑rated for VAT, which simply means that VAT is not charged on bus fares.
Latchan says bus fares will not go down as there is no VAT on fares so they should stop misleading people.
The association calls on politicians to get their facts right before making policy statements on the bus industry that have the potential to impact the travelling public.
Latchan says the last time bus fares changed was in August 2009 and since then there have been rises in operational costs, and costs associated with the modernisation and replacement of bus fleets and the introduction of electronic ticketing.
He says for nearly a decade, bus operators have been fighting rising costs.
Latchan says bus operators are urging politicians not to politicise the bus industry as they comprise privately‑owned companies, operating under strict laws and regulations while doing their best to serve the people of Fiji.
