The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

A TEN percent increase in taxi fares was announced yesterday by Minister of Transport and Housing JoBeth Coleby-Davis.

In her Budget contribution yesterday, Ms Coleby-Davis said a new code of conduct for all public service drivers will be implemented by September and that taxi fares are set to increase by 10 percent. At a press conference last month, Ms Coleby-Davis said the rates would be increased by early summer, although she did not say by how much at that time.

She said yesterday: “The Taxi Industry Service Improvement Project is a partnership between the Ministry of Transport and Housing, Bahamas Taxicab Union, and the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association to improve customer service standards in the industry. A major important component of the project includes an increase of ten percent in taxi fares.”

“By the end of September 2023, a code of conduct for all public service drivers and franchise owners will be in place. Breaches to the code will be subject to a hearing and action by the Tribunal.

“A special app will also be launched very soon for members of the public to provide feedback on drivers. Improvements are also on the way for the jitney industry.”

The minister said the Road Traffic Department is slated to earn over 56 million over the next fiscal year and said offices in Grand Bahama, Cat Island, Mayguana, Inagua and Crooked Island will be opened by the end of this year. She added that the offices will provide employment opportunities while straitening road safety throughout the country.

She said: “In the 2023/2024 budget period, the Road Traffic Department is projecting income of more than $56m. The department has allocated over $6.9m for recurrent expenditure.

“Plans for this budget period include the opening of a Road Traffic office in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama, by the end of August and offices in Orange Creek and New Bight, Cat Island, by the end of October 2023. Offices in Mayaguana and Inagua should be ready by the end of December 2023. The Crooked Island office will provide mobile services to Acklins and Long Cay and should also be ready by end of December.

“The new offices will ensure the efficient collection of revenue by the department, create employment opportunities in those islands, and strengthen our efforts to promote road safety.”

Ms Coleby-Davis gave an update on the Port Department which is expected to earn over $18m over the next fiscal year. She said requests for proposals will be sent out for the construction of the Marsh Harbour and Coopers Town ports in Abaco, a clean-up will be done of the Nassau Harbour, the Nassau Harbour Control will be relocated to the new Nassau Cruise Port and a review will be undertaken of the Port Department offices in Exuma and Eleuthera.

She said: “The Port Department is expected to generate over $18m in revenue. The department is allocated over $9m for recurrent expenditure.”

“Plans of the department in 2023 include the cleaning of Nassau Harbour and surrounding areas, issuance of RFP for Cooper’s Town and Marsh Harbour Ports to continue to stimulate and grow the economy of Abaco, construction of office spaces at the Dockmaster’s Office on Potter’s Cay, the relocation of the Nassau Harbor Control to Nassau Cruise Port terminal building, and the urgent review of the Port Department’s offices in Exuma and Eleuthera.”

Ms Coleby-Davis said new tax concessions will see vessels imported into the country paying a registration fee instead of the import and VAT duties currently applied. She said these changes will level the playing field for water sport and sport fishing operators that complained about foreign vessels being allowed to operate within the country without paying the prescribed import taxes.

She said: “Given the significant capital costs associated with the purchase of vessels, government concessions were required to enable Bahamians to have a fair chance in participating in this industry. This budget, for the first time, will provide for water sports and sports fishing industries similar concessions and support as those given to taxi and livery tour businesses.

“Vessels imported into The Bahamas will pay a first-time registration fee in lieu of import duties and Value Added Taxes. This fee represents a significant saving for new and existing water sports and fishing operators.”

Ms Coleby-Davis added that regulatory changes to ensure private vessels are inspected by the Port Department are underway and that a licence regime for private vessels will be introduced.

She said: “To promote safety, this budget will introduce an amendment which require all privately owned vessels in The Bahamas be inspected by the Port Department. This amendment is long overdue and will save lives by ensuring that private vessels which are not sea-worthy are not issued licences.

“The Port Department is presently engaged in discussions relative to the introduction of a licensing regime for persons to operate private vessels.”

“To help equalise the playing field between Bahamian and non-Bahamian vessel owners… this administration has increased the registration fees for persons participating in the Foreign Yacht Charter Programme.”