Reports that some taxi drivers in Freeport who ply their trade primarily from Freeport International Airport and the harbour habitually overcharge their customers were rampant this past weekend.
These unscrupulous drivers, of course, could not have picked a better time to take their passengers for a ride, so to speak. Over the weekend Grand Bahama was overflowing with traditional tourists, and also visitors from New Providence and other islands of The Bahamas who came to view first-hand the “Feel The Rush” Junkanoo parade held Sunday night.
It is difficult to pinpoint to a degree of certainty how pervasive this practice is among taxi drivers, but it is said to be a common practice for some drivers to take advantage of tourists from abroad who don’t know what it costs to be transported to their hotels.
According to guidelines put in place by the Road Traffic Department, if two couples are sharing a taxi going to the same destination, the standard fare should be charged for one person, with each additional passenger paying $3 each. But some taxi drivers reportedly routinely charge each individual the standard fare. For example, based on the new “zone rate” that went into effect on Monday, someone going to Pelican Bay would be required to pay $20, and each of the other individuals $3. In the case of two couples, the legitimate fare should be $29, but if each individual is charged $20, the driver collects $80.
With many of the taxi cabs in Freeport now being “mini-buses,” this abuse of the system can, of course, generate a lucrative business for those drivers who may be favourites of the dispatcher or supervisor who is responsible for assigning tourists to the various cabs.
One complaint that has been made by drivers who are not favourites of dispatchers is that some drivers are given fares going to separate destinations, which tends to “legitimize” charging passengers individual fares. Although Pelican Bay and the Westin and Sheraton at Our Lucaya are located in the same general area, these are nonetheless two separate destinations, and it is patently wrong for dispatchers to utilize one cab for visitors going to both of these destinations.
Certainly, this is a practice that the Road Traffic Department does not condone, but has difficulty monitoring. This being the case, it is incumbent on those taxi drivers who are affected by this practice of favouritism to provide the Road Traffic Department with documented cases that can be proven, so that the necessary action can be taken to halt this abuse of the system.
First impression is always very important, and if the first impression a visitor gets on arriving in The Bahamas is that Bahamian taxi drivers are greedy individuals who take advantage of visitors, then many of them may choose to not come back to The Bahamas.
Tourism is the main pillar of the country’s economy, and rogue cab drivers should not be allowed to jeopardize our main economic lifeline.
Editorial from The Nassau Guardian
