Spokesman Pleads with A-G to Relook at Traffic Fines
The reason drivers receive fines is because they break the law, says Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
The A-G made this comment in response to a submission made by the Viti Minibuses Association consultant, Maciu Volatabu, during the Financial Year 2022-2023 National Budget Consultations at the Sugar Cane Growers Council Hall in Lautoka on Tuesday.
Mr Volatabu said that many minibus drivers were getting booked by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and drivers could not afford to pay their fines.
“A lot of drivers are facing problems now because they have been receiving fines from the LTA.
“Since this is the only source of income for their family there’s no other alternative that they can follow.
“Most of these drivers cannot afford to pay all these fines,” he said.
He asked if there was any possibility for the Government to intervene and assist drivers to get their licence renewed and
monitor their payments.
In response, the A-G said these drivers received a fine because they broke the law.
“Unfortunately in Fiji a lot of these things we have seen, people don’t adhere to the rules,” he said.
“The drivers that you are saying that were fined, the reason why they got fined is because they broke the law, that’s why they got fined whether they were speeding, whether they were overloading, they broke the law so there’s a fine.”
He advised Mr Volatabu to also submit his query to the LTA.
Culture of Service
A Nakavu, Nadi resident told the A-G that he was not treated fairly by a Nadi Town Council worker.
Levani Cau, 63, said that from February he planned to start selling juice so he could get some income to support his family.
He said he hasn’t received any feedback from the council and claimed that he was sworn at by a council worker.
“I have been running since February and the month of June is about to finish, I want to earn a living,” Mr Cau pleaded.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji has not had a culture of service in the civil service or the municipal councils and a lot of these people see ordinary citizens as a nuisance.
The A-G said he was sorry that Mr Cau had to go through that ordeal.
“We have to write instructions now and we have to roll this out formally and get all the permanent secretaries to say ‘this is what we are going to do, make sure you start to do this’,” said the A-G.
“We will roll it out to the civil service next month and that should also flow on to the municipal councils and statutory bodies.”
He said customers would feel satisfied if they’ve been treated well.
“Vinaka vakalevu, thank you very much, good morning or good afternoon’ - it does not cost a single cent to do that and you will go home satisfied,” he added.