The whole of Vanua Levu is experiencing issues with the topping up of e-bus cards.

In a talanoa session with the Dreketi community yesterday, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Jone Usamate was told that most times the top up machines have either run out of cash or are not working.

In these cases, people have to travel right to Labasa to get their cards topped up.

Usamate says this is a major issue and he has directed the Land Transport Authority to look into it and ensure it is addressed.

He told LTA officers at the talanoa session that when they have the scheme in place, they have to make sure that the public in the rural areas don’t have to travel far to top up their card.

The e-bus card top up machine is available at a couple of shops in Dreketi.

Meanwhile, LTA Savusavu/Taveuni Branch Manager Sevuloni Waituruturu reminded the public that as of now, there is no more cash transactions for all bus services.

And he has also warned young people that using bus cards belonging to elderlies is not allowed.