A Suva bus company is seeking an increase in bus fares after the increase in the price of fuel last month.
Raiwaqa Buses Ltd managing director Ashok Kumar says the company owed $145,032.71 to one of the largest petroleum companies in the country.
Mr Kumar, while calling on the Government and Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission to consider an increase in fares, said the company was straddled by debts to creditors and the cost of maintenance to its fleet of buses.
He said they were being pressured by the fuel company to pay off their debt and would be forced to cease services if they cannot pay their debts.
“We run our business on overdraft and sometimes there is not enough funds to pay wages,” he said.
“As a director, sometimes I don’t take a salary when we don’t have a good cash flow.
He said he had to reduce transportation services from 17 to seven buses because of financial constraints.
“We rotate the drivers so that at the end of the day they have some money for the week for their families.
“We can’t send drivers home just like that because some drivers have been working for five to seven years.”
Questions sent to Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and FCCC on March 8 have remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
