Cheers Erupt As A-G Hands out taxi permits
Forty-three Fijians officially received their taxi permits from the Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at Albert Park Pavilion in Suva yesterday.
The new permits are given to those applicants who applied prior to and during the taxi permit freeze in 2011 which was lifted on January 1 this year.
The sound of cheers for the Fijian Government echoed through Albert Park and smiles were visible on recipient’s faces as they walked up to receive their permits and take pictures with the Government delegation and their own families. Viliame Raiyawa could not hold his emotions back as he shared his experience of waiting for his taxi permit. Mr Raiyawa of Natumua, Tavuki in Kadavu has been waiting for three years after much advice and requests to the Land Transport Authority.
“Today I finally got the permit, I thank God and also the Government and LTA for processing my permit.”
Kishore Kumar, 60, had applied for his permit in 2000.
“I was running around for it and today finally receiving the permit I am happy. This is income for myself and family.” Milika Drodroveivale said yesterday was a blessing for her and many who were with her yesterday.
She had applied in 2009 and was thankful to God for the blessing and the Government.
“It has been a long and good wait. I was working in Nausori and when I got ill I had to leave work, my husband was the sole bread winner, but now with this I can help him and this will benefit my children in the future.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the priority taxi permits were valid for 10 years and can be mortgaged as security. He said taxi permits were now an asset, which was free and for their future and their families.
He urged recipients to make use of the permits and not sell it, unless they wished to and LTA was not allowed to stop them from selling their taxi permits.
He said the permits were not handouts and called on the recipients to contribute to the economy.
Applicants need to meet certain criteria, including an annual income of $20,000 or less and they should not already own a taxi permit or a taxi, minibus or carrier business. Edited by Percy Kean