The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Taxi drivers say they have resolved differences with Atlantis that previously saw them threaten to block the bridge to Paradise Island.

Wesley Ferguson, the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union's (BTCU) president, said drivers are “satisfied” with the new protocols that the mega resort has now put in place for taxi drivers bringing cruise ship passengers who want to tour the property.

He added that the arrangement will allow cruise port taxi drivers to bring cruise ship passengers to the resort at 3pm daily, providing there are vessels docked for that day. Mr Ferguson said he and the union have agreed to this, and understand Atlantis' position that it wants to avoid disrupting the taxi call-up system already in place through an influx of cruise ship visitors.

Mr Ferguson said: “We spoke to Atlantis on Wednesday, and so far they have made some changes to their new protocols as it pertains to taxi drivers’ drop-offs at the Coral Towers.

“They have assured us that it is not their intention to disenfranchise the taxi drivers from the dock, and they walked us through the new system that they put in place for taxi drivers. The road traffic controller was there with representatives from the Ministry of Transport.” The taxi union has now pronounced itself “satisfied” with these measures unless Atlantis “digresses” from what it has promised.

Mr Ferguson added: “So we do share the concerns with Atlantis, in that it does present some kind of injustice to the guests who pay handsomely to stay at Atlantis to have the cruise ship passengers just milling about aimlessly through the property. It does present a challenge for them.”

Atlantis management previously explained its concern that access to the Coral Towers was becoming clogged with the surge in cruise passenger-carrying taxis, while there were also fears that some drivers are unlicensed.

Cruise port taxi drivers will now have an allotted time at 3pm to bring cruise ship passengers to Atlantis for tours. But random drive-ups have been suspended until the new system kicks in. “We’re still going to watch it because Atlantis has a propensity to back track at times,” Mr Ferguson said.