In its bid to bring services closer to the people the Land Transport Authority opened its new customer care outlet in the heart of Labasa Town this morning,
The office will facilitate request for learners’ permits, clarifications on data of vehicle and driver registrations and traffic infringement notices.
LTA general manager operations LTA, Josefa Vosanibola said the new office would be used as a launching pad for their community relations programmes and other matters to be dealt with at their main administration centre in Vaturekuka, about five kilometers outside town.
“The reason why we are having this is to avoid customers traveling to Vaturekuka – save on the extra cost on bus or taxi fares,” Mr Vosanibola said.
“We will also be working closely with police in terms of search on registrations and other data.
“Inspection of vehicles and other main administration work will continue to be dealt with at our main centre.”
In opening the new office, Commissioner Northern Lt.Colonel Inia Seruiratu applauded the LTA for aligning itself to Pillar 4 of the People’s Charter of “Enhancing Public Sector Efficiency, Performance Effectiveness and Service Delivery”.
LTA board member Commander Mosese Semi said the new office was a tangible reflection of the Land Transport Authority’s objective to improve customer service accessibility.
Commander Semi said LTA was undergoing a makeover that included not only an upgrade in enforcement technology but also changing of mindsets towards customer service.
“Be rest assured that bad customer service is being cured,” he said.
“As part of the curing process, this year LTA is making sure that there are no unmanned front desks, grumpy servers, stubborn demeanors, clueless staff, and employees talking on the phone while customers wait or managers who refuse to acknowledge a customer.
“We want to see that when you enter an LTA office, you won’t be asked to come back another day to get your problem addressed.
“If the customer service norm you expected left you with a bitter aftertaste every time you visited LTA, then the changes we are implementing will be beyond that expectation,” Commander Semi said.
The authority expects to open another outlet at Nabouwalu in Bua soon.
Four new vehicles, two equipped with mobile databases and two for enforcement and community relations purposes, were handed over to the Labasa office today.
President of the Labasa Chamber of Commerce Ashok Karan said the LTA move also fell in line with the Look North Policy.
“It is wonderful news and we very much welcome it and its totally in line with Government’s delivery of service in terms of the Look North policy,” Mr Karan said.
Commissioner Northern Inia Seruiratu checks out the new high-tech enforcement vehicle for LTA in the North.
Opening of the LTA Customer Service Centre in Labasa by the Commissioner Northern.
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