The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Taxi Union president David Jones is expected to call a strike next week over the continued unfair dominance of ground transportation by tour operators at the island's harbour, airport and hotels.

He stressed that taxi cab drivers are being squeezed out of the transportation business, especially at the Freeport Harbour.

Mr Jones said that even though Prime Minister Perry Christie had advised a year ago that the transport of cruise passengers would be shared 50-50 between tour operators and cab drivers, it has not happened.  

“As a matter of fact, it has gotten worse, and we are fed up; no one is enforcing the law and rules regarding the transportation of passengers at the harbour,” he told The Tribune on Friday.

“The PM stated publicly that there will be a 50-50 sharing at the harbour on December 15, 2014 - it seems that his (the PM's) word has no bearing.”

Mr Jones also noted that the Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchcombe had also expressed concern over the takeover of business by tour operators at the harbour.

The union president said they have met Road Traffic Department officials about enforcing the law at the harbour, and they have met representatives of the Grand Celebration cruise ship.

“Taxi drivers are barely surviving at the harbour,” he said. “When tour operators go out and advertise and bring people to this country, taxi drivers know they are not supposed to carry those persons. But that ‘s not what’s happening. The tour operators are in the line-up with taxi drivers and they sell to passengers right there and put them in buses.”

Mr Jones also claims that a certain tour operator is also now selling Lucaya, taking cruise passengers on their huge buses on a one-way trip to Port Lucaya for $10, the same as taxi drivers.     

He said that the law clearly states what tour operators are allowed and not allowed to do.

At the airport, Mr Jones said taxi drivers are experiencing the same thing. When Sunwing Airlines arrives with close to 200 passengers daily and on weekends to Grand Bahama, he said those passengers are not being transported by taxi drivers.  

Mr Jones also claimed that tour operators and courtesy vans are also cutting into the taxi business at the hotels.

“Taxi drivers used to take guests to fish fry on Wednesday, and they are taking that business away from us too. We also have a big problem with the courtesy vans that the hotels are using take guests to shops and food stores - those are jobs reserved for taxi drivers,” he said.

Mr Jones said that taxi drivers are required to take the Bahamashost refresher course, meet inspections twice a year and pay licence and National Insurance fees.

“How are we supposed to meet our obligations if we are being pushed out of business and not getting any jobs? I had two members who were really affected by what is happening - one committed suicide. We now have a counselling programme for our members because it is stressful and things are tough. The government promised it would change; a year has gone and nothing has happened yet.”