The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE BAHAMAS Taxicab Union’s (BTU) president yesterday said the union was moving ever closer to changing the industry’s image by embracing technology through its own app.

Wesley Ferguson said its 400 members now have access to Taxacari, an app owned and operated by the union.

“It’s an Uber-type app that you can download on your smartphone. You can basically engage a taxi from anywhere in the world, anywhere in Nassau, anywhere in The Bahamas,” he explained.

“It gives you all of the information on the driver, photos, prearranged price and a timeframe. You can track the driver to see how far they are and when they will get to you. We have been working on it for the last six months. We’ve finally dotted all of our ‘i’s’ and crossed our ‘t’s’,” said Mr Ferguson.

He added: “This is going to be for the 400 taxi cab union members only. All the taxi cabs will have credit card machines and wi-fi. This is owned and operated by the taxi union. Taxis only can tap into this app.”

Mr Ferguson said the app platform could allow taxi drivers to generate more business. “I think this is going to be great for taxi drivers and make what we offer even more attractive to potential customers,” he added.