Yesterday, I was appalled to see an argument between one of our senior, long serving Taxi drivers and an alleged jitney driver in the front of a resort. The argument was captured on video and shared on social media. It was a public display of a huge problem that this Government continues to ignore – that of the presence of illegal jitneys.
Unfair To Legal Taxi Drivers
This is a symptom of a bigger problem which I raised only last week in Parliament. Taxi drivers who are legal road users and have to pay for licenses, TCIAA fees, NHIP and NIB should not have to compete with illegal public transportation. The Government must see how unfair this is and how frustrating this is and is becoming.
Alleged Role Of Hotel Workers
We are also informed that there is a practice of some front desk workers at different resorts/hotels calling illegal public transportation for hotel guests. We need not reiterate, but we will again address the risk this poses should tourists be hurt in any way. This practice if true, must cease forthwith and we are calling on those resorts/hotels where reports have been made to you to ensure that your guests are entering legal public transportation.
Loss Revenue
We continue to be baffled that this Government has not seen the loss in revenue with this unregulated industry as a catalyst to address this issue if nothing else motivates them to act. We continue to be equally baffled that this Government has not moved to protect legal road users, to provide safe and insured public transportation for the public. The excuse of the Constitution tying their hands or having no cash to address pressing issues does not apply to this situation, though not to any at all. We await a reason from the Government as to why this situation continues unaddressed.
Public Appeal
We again publicly call on the Government to address this matter with haste and to see the risks to passengers and legal road users, unfairness to taxi drivers and loss of revenue that this situation left unresolved continues to bring. We are aware of the apparent “gray” area that exists as to which law enforcement arm should be policing these vehicles. We maintain that there is a joint role for Road Safety and the Police and if left much longer, we fear that people will begin to take matters in their own hands.
Nonetheless, we urge the Taxi Drivers who have been patient for long to remember our brand but to also see the importance in standing together resolutely to address this Government on this and other pressing issues.
Members of my Team will visit hotels to address the allegations against staff and will today address our concerns to the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association.
