Legalizing Pirate Taxies a Betrayal of Lawful Operators

A proposal floated by the Transport Minister to legalise illegal taxis has drawn strong criticism from Head of Dialogue Fiji, Nilesh Lal, who warns that the move could seriously undermine regulatory integrity, economic fairness, and public trust in the government.

In his statement, Lal said the justification offered—namely, a shortage of taxis during peak hours—was “a deeply flawed and dangerous basis for policy-making.”

“While it may appear to be a well-meaning attempt to improve public transport access, it is, in reality, a policy that threatens the foundations of our regulatory system,” Lal said.

He expressed further concern over what he described as a lack of consultation with industry stakeholders. “The government has already made changes to the open rank system without proper dialogue. The minister’s statements about legitimising illegal taxis demonstrate a similar disregard for stakeholder engagement and a poor understanding of property law,” he said.

Lal noted that many Fijians have invested heavily—sometimes over $50,000—in taxi permits, often using loans or superannuation funds.

“These investments were made in good faith, under a regulatory regime that promised certainty and fairness. To now legitimise those who operated outside this system is an insult to every law-abiding permit holder.”

He argued that the issue is not a shortage of taxis, but rather inefficiencies in how they are dispatched. “With better technology and a taxi-hailing app, this issue can be resolved without dismantling the legal framework that protects both operators and the public,” he said.

Lal also raised public safety concerns, noting that legal taxis are subject to vehicle checks, insurance, and driver licensing, while illegal taxis have bypassed such regulations for years. “Are we now going to ignore these standards for the sake of convenience?”

He suggested alternative solutions, such as conditional or time-limited permits during peak hours, or support for ride-sharing technology, while emphasising the need to compensate existing permit holders if the sector is to be liberalised.

“A government that rewards lawbreaking not only undermines the rule of law—it destroys the moral contract between citizens and the state,” Lal said. “If this policy proceeds, it will not be seen as bold reform, but as a betrayal of hardworking Fijians who have played by the rules.”