Confusion and frustration erupted across the island on Tuesday after the Government announced a phased increase in public passenger vehicle (PPV) fares without immediately publishing a revised fare table, leaving operators and commuters uncertain about what should be charged.

The long-awaited fare adjustment, announced by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz after months of lobbying by taxi operators, will be implemented in two phases. An initial eight per cent increase took effect yesterday while the remaining eight per cent is scheduled for July.

The absence of a fare-adjustment table added to the uncertainty. During the previous two fare increases, many operators rounded fares up to the nearest $50 to avoid dealing with coins. With the latest increase, it remains unclear whether calculations will be based on the currently approved rates or the amounts passengers were actually paying. If the older approved rates are used, some routes could see little or no fare movement.