RANOBA BAOA and MARAIA VULA
suva
The Attorney-General has made it clear that the Land Transport Act should not be in any case abused by Land Transport Authority and members within the Fiji Bus Operators Association.
It should be exercised with utmost transparency following the proper channels of approvals, he said.
His comments referred specifically to Section 66 of the Act and came as he addressed the Fiji Bus Operators Association 2014 Annual Convention. It was held at Novotel Suva Lami Bay Convention Centre.
It followed the address by association president highlighting the authority’s careless discretion of Section 66 titled Special conditions relating to road permits.
“We have already issued a directive to LTA regarding the usage of Section 66. Section 66 cannot be used to give a permanent licence. Period. That is law,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“Section 66 must only be used on a temporary basis (like the president pointed out), three months and must be for a specific period and the incumbent should be issued.”
He said it had clearly been abused by LTA management and this lead to corruption.
However, in light of this, he pointed out that people within the association were also to blame for this and both were responsible for the section’s undermining.
“But the people who are also corrupting are also from your association itself. That’s the point you need to note. You simply cannot blame LTA.
“So it’s your very own association members who are undermining each other. We need to maintain transparency and some form of conduct of conduct within your own association. That is very, very critical.
Code of Conduct
He added there should be some of disciplinary measures or code of conduct that in place.
Mr Kewal said in previous years, the Authority’s Board who have been solely tasked with considering applications under Section 66 but now it was different.
“We request that the LTA management refrain from issuing any further Section 66 permits and that this power reverts to the board to exercise solely.”
Further, Mr Kewal said while it welcome it, it called some form of exception to some of the authority’s inspired Quality Assurance Maintenance System (QAMS) in terms of vehicle age.
In this regard, while Mr Sayed-Khaiyum acknowledged the apparent disparity in the industry, the onus were on all stakeholders to work together.
Additionally, based on the issues by industry, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said after the completion the transportation consultation process, they would compile and hand over their report to the Prime Minister.
Feedback: ranobab@fijisun.com.fj & Maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj