The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

DISGRUNTLED members of the Bahamas Limousine Association yesterday complained that a Road Traffic officer prevents them from getting jobs by giving “first preference to taxi drivers” at the Lynden Pindling International Airport.

Led by BLA President Ellington Ferguson, over a dozen members of the association yesterday gathered outside the Road Traffic Department to lodge a formal complaint to Controller Ross Smith about a senior Road Traffic officer who, they claim, was causing BLA members to go “nine hours a day without receiving a single job.”

“When you talk about preventing people from working, you are dealing directly with people’s livelihoods and how they live,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The persons dispatching are supposed to offer all services available which are taxis, limos, sedans, etc.

“One of the things that needs to be made clear to all officers is what they should be doing when they go out there.

“Their job is to regulate, to make sure that road traffic laws aren’t being infringed upon. Not to prevent, or to use their position to prevent people from making a living.”

According to Mr Ferguson, problems began four months ago.

Rather than offering tourists who have just arrived in the country the option of choosing their method of transportation, BHA members claimed the officer would immediately direct the guests to the “cheaper” taxis while shunning the limo drivers in the process.

When the drivers would raise their concerns, they claimed she would ask for their badges.

Attempts to reach Mr Smith for comment on the issue were unsuccessful up to press time, but Mr Ferguson said he was confident that the controller would bring resolution to the issue.

“We had a very cordial discussion with the controller, who I have the greatest respect and lots of confidence in, and he has promised that he is going to look into it,” he said.

“He pledged to bring a quick resolution to it and to deal with it immediately for us.

“He said he would get back to us in short order and we will follow up with communications to make sure that after what we discussed all officers that come out there know what they’re supposed to do.”