E-Ticketing and legal tender

Tim Howick-Smith, Uduya Point, Lami

Under the jurisdictions of many countries there is the concept of “Legal Tender”.

Legal tender is any official medium of payment recognised by law that can be used to extinguish a public or private debt, or meet a financial obligation. The national currency is legal tender in practically every country. A creditor is obligated to accept legal tender toward repayment of a debt.

Is the concept of legal tender recognised under Fijian laws?

If so I believe I am entitled to board a bus, offer the driver legal tender i.e. Fijian notes or coins, corresponding to the required fare, and the bus driver cannot refuse this form of payment and is obligated to allow me to travel to my destination.

Bus drivers are already facing the brunt of the introduction of the e-Ticketing system.

As a result I do not wish to further complicate their work, and delay other passengers boarding buses and reaching their destinations, by my debating this issue every time I board a bus. I would therefore request that the authorities clarify this issue.

Unless and until I am provided with evidence to the contrary I will assume that the concept of Legal Tender applies in Fiji and as such I am entitled to use cash rather than an e-Ticket when travelling by bus.