More than 100 taxi drivers accused the government of turning a deaf ear to their cries for help during a vocal demonstration in Rawson Square yesterday.
The angry protesters, who gathered outside the House of Assembly during its first meeting since the summer recess, said they are tired of working for “peanuts” and are demanding that regulations be put in place to ensure they receive a “fair share of the economy.”
“The main reason that we are here (in Rawson Square) is because the working conditions for taxi drivers at the (Prince George) dock and all across New Providence and Paradise Island are just deplorable, and we need the attention of the government,” said Mark Sawyer, Chairman of the Prince George Dock Taxi Committee.
“We love our country. We love our tourists. We just want to make a living. However, we need the people from road traffic to do their jobs and the government to take us seriously.”
Prime Minister Perry Christie is expected to meet with the frustrated taxi drivers but chastised the group for demonstrating on Bay Street yesterday. “I don’t know the issues until you tell me what they
are, then in fairness we will discuss the matter and see how we will address the issue,” he told the drivers.
“Because this don’t help you, it don’t help Bay Street and it don’t help The Bahamas. It’s a manifestation of your right to democracy and to speak your minds, and so forth and so on, but remember now in the way forward, these are difficult times for the country.”
The Prime Minister suggested that some of the protesters had political agendas, and noted that his father had driven a taxi “before these brothers were born.”
“I got an education from a taxi driver who demonstrated to me the dignity of service. None of them could take that from me and I will zealously guard that,” said Mr Christie.
Cab drivers said they are also tired of the “unfair competition” between the tour companies and taxi drivers.
“If a tour agent comes down here to the port to pick up a group of passengers they need to get permission from the Road Traffic Department 48 hours ahead of time. That permission needs to be published at the taxi stand so that the taxi drivers will be aware of it. However, if the tour companies fail to do that then the work is supposed to be going to the taxi drivers,” said Mr Sawyer. “This is one rule that the Road Traffic Department just will not enforce. Everyday we have the tour buses that come down here to the port that do not have permission, taking all of the work and all that we taxi drivers get is peanuts.”
He said the cost of operating a taxi has sky-rocketed because there has been no increase in fares in over five years, but the cost of fuel has drastically increased.
Cab drivers also want the government to eliminate bridge toll for taxis without passengers.
Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna-Martin, who was at the House of Assembly yesterday, spoke with the group of protesters and promised to meet with them and address their concerns.
“This grouping, I am sensing, is dealing with a number of issues which were not actively addressed by my ministry. Certainly, my ministry is a factual entity. I certainly have a listening ear and a listening sympathetic ear to what the plight of the taxi drivers and anyone in the ground transportation industry is,” said Mrs Hanna-Martin.
“My only concern is that it got to this point without us really being on top of what the issues were. I am going to be involved with seeing what their issues are and seeing how we can bring a resolution to them.”
By: LASHONNE OUTTEN, The Nassau Guardian
