Tacirua Transport Will Face Disciplinary Action: Authority

The Land Transport Authority has spoken out regarding the St Marcellin Primary School bus issue saying Tacirua Transport Limited will face disciplinary action. Several students of St Marcellin were left stranded in school on the first day of school after their school bus failed to turn up.

Upon enquiring with the bus company head teacher, Jese Pareti, said they were told that the company was no longer servicing that route.

Yesterday, LTA said Tacirua Transport would face disciplinary action for illegally operating a school bus route without prior authorisation from LTA.

LTA chief executive officer, Samuel Simpson said it was against the law for bus operators to operate outside of their authorised road route license (RRL) adding they were aware of it because it was part of the conditions of their bus permits.

“This is completely illegal, and they will be brought before the LTA Board for disciplinary action. As a bus operator, the responsibility lies solely on their shoulders. This is not some obscure piece of information for bus operators - Over 800 RRLs have been issued in Fiji and many of the same operators have multiple RRL’s,” Mr Simpson said.

“Any bus operator who breaks the rules will have to face the consequences, especially if they are knowingly breaking the rules.”

Since the incident, another bus operator has stepped in to provide emergency bus service for that route.

The trip will be advertised under the expression of interest process for the selection of a new bus operator.

Meanwhile, Consumer Council of Fiji CEO, Seema Shandil, expressed her disappointment that the students were left stranded by the bus company without any regard for their safety and security.

Ms Shandil said bus companies have a “duty of care” towards their customers and must ensure that they provide this essential service as scheduled or issue an alert notifying consumers of any change in schedule or suspension of bus service.

“The case that has been highlighted in the media of children being left stranded becomes an issue of safety. Parents send their children to school with the understanding that there is a system of transportation that works in their favour and that their children will be transported safely back home,” Ms Shandil said.

Consumers with grievances against bus services are encouraged to lodge a complaint with the council through the toll-free number 155 or through the Consumer Council of Fiji mobile app.

Efforts to get comments from Tacirua Transport Limited were unsuccessful despite a Fiji Sun team visiting their head office yesterday.