Proposed increases to taxi fares are taking more rounds of consultations as Government determines whether an increase in Value Added Tax encompasses taxi fares.
The Land Transport Authority submitted the new taxi fare structure to the Ministry of Transport this morning.
The fare structure is based on the 15 percent increase to Value Added Tax that is effective January 1, 2011.
Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities Colonel Timoci Natuva confirmed an issue that is to be determined is whether the VAT increase also applies to taxi fares.
“We have to consult with the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority and the Ministry of Finance,” he said.
Ministry of Transport Permanent Secretary Cama Tuiloa will meet with stakeholders to further consult on the issue this Wednesday.
“From what I understand there should not be any increase but we have to consult everybody,” Colonel Natuva said.
“They will have that meeting and the outcome of that meeting they submit to me and I inform the Prime Minister of the outcomes.
“All this information published in the papers that we will have an increase in January, we are not really thinking about that at the moment.”
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