- Few days following 30% increase some taxis raise rates, buses report losses
- HCC to meet with stakeholders next week
BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Public transport owners and members of public in Honiara are immediately feeling the pinch of the fuel price increase.
This comes just a day after fuel prices rose by 30 percent. Fuel prices are projected to continue rising, with the next increase expected a week from now, on May 1.
Some taxi drivers charged $15 per kilometre yesterday, citing heavy costs due to the fuel price hike. Bus drivers said they were continuing with normal rates but at heavy losses.
The Honiara City Council has not received any formal complaint, but takes this issue seriously and is planning to meet with stakeholders next week, Mayor Eddie Siapu told Island Sun yesterday.
On Wednesday this week, April 22, fuel prices rose by around 30 percent, the biggest margin since the global fuel price crisis began following the conflict in the Middle East. New prices include – Petrol $12.45 per litre (L), Diesel $13.24 /L.
Earlier, on April 1, fuel prices rose by around 3 percent. Prices before April 22 – Petrol $9.01 /L and Diesel $9.81 /L.
Yesterday, posts on social media reported some taxi drivers charging $15 per kilometre. Others still charged the normal $10/km.
Speaking to Island Sun, owners of two major taxi services in Honiara said they have not officially raised their rates yet since they are yet to meet with the HCC over the matter.
However, they are aware that some of their drivers are charging customers $15 /km but insist that they cannot do much to dissuade the drivers from this.
“We feel sad for our drivers and our customers at the same time. But we cannot stop our drivers from charging the increased rate because they are feeling the heavy toll of the fuel price jump,” Mr Sasani, owner of Classic Taxi service told Island Sun yesterday.
One of the leaders of Prince Taxi service, Mr Deme also shares the same sentiment, adding that they advised their drivers who have raised their rates to first inform customers to allow customers the right to choose.
“Before any of our drivers with raised rates take a customer, they first tell the customer that they will be charging new rates. If the customer does not agree then he/she can leave the taxi.”
Sasani says they are waiting on authorities, especially HCC to act and raise the rate of taxi-fares before making an official stand on raising their rates.
For the time being, it is up to each driver whether or not to charge an increased taxi fare.
When asked why the business cannot prohibit their drivers from individually increasing taxi fares on ad hoc, the response was it could cause drivers to simply leave the service or stop working.
Sasani calls on authorities especially HCC to quickly address this matter in collaboration with stakeholders and public transport owners because the high fuel prices will only worsen but it is already costing heavily on them.
Several bus drivers told Island Sun that they are still running the normal bus fares – adult $3, children/student $2 – but that they are earning less than what they were making before April 22.
Mayor Siapu meanwhile calls on bus and taxi owners and services to form associations or committees to meet with the Council over the matter.
He said the Council will meet next week with stakeholders and deliberate on whether or not to increase bus and taxi fares to counter the fuel price rise.
“We have not looked into the issue yet because we have not received any formal complaint. But it is an important issue which we have taken note of recently.
“But taxis and buses need to form associations to speak on their behalf with us. We will also have to meet with Price Control over the issue too.
“We cannot increase taxi fares unnecessarily, and if we are to increase it, we must agree on a certain percentage of increment which will be fair to service owners and public,” Siapu said.
Photo: Supplied
For feedback, contact: [email protected]
Editor: [email protected]
