National Federation party MP Maan Singh told the newspaper that the move was against the spirit of the country's new multi-racial constitution.

Of Fiji's around 800,000 people around 51 per cent are native Fijian and 43 per cent ethnic Indian. "While I support the government policy to encourage more Fijians into the taxi business, I, however, feel that this is unjust and a racist policy," said Singh.

"Why do Indians have to suffer if Fijians do not apply for taxi permits", Mann said. He suggested that applications should be open to all races and that preference be given to Fijian applicants "in areas where there are no Fijian taxi proprietors".

An advertisement by the head of the department of road transport, Inia Tamani, said taxi permits would only be issued to Fijian applicants "until the Fijian permit ownership reaches 2000". Indians currentlyhold 2,285 permits, Fijians 1,756 and others 205.