Maxi drivers upset with Sinanan

The Maxi Taxi Drivers’ Association of TT is upset with its line minister over what it claimed was neglect of its members during the covid19 pandemic.

President Eon Hewitt said Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan has not paid any attention to their health and safety needs during the ordeal, as they too are regarded as essential workers.

The members of the association met with Sinanan on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the fuel relief grant that was announced for maxi-taxi operators.

Last Saturday the PM announced that Government would make $2,000 available to each maxi-taxi operator to supplement reduced income owing to travel restrictions implemented to reduce the spread of covid19. Maxis are currently being mandated to operate at 50 per cent capacity.

Hewitt said the association was grateful for the relief effort by the Government, but there were still challenges.

“We appreciate the Government’s gesture but there are many people who are still incurring personal losses.

“We are essential workers and are not being taken seriously by our minister. We have to dip in our own pockets to ensure that city gate is properly sanitised, and no help was forthcoming from our ministry. We continue to to run city gate as our on, although it is under the management of the Public Transport Service Corporation."

Hewitt claimed that two drivers were infected with covid19 and nothing was done by the authorities to ensure the major transportation hub was adequately sanitised to prevent spread of the virus.

“This is not right,” he said.

Hewitt also said that the fuel grant is expected to be available next week.

Additionally, Hewitt said they were informed that the fuel grant would only be made available to maxi-taxi owners and not people who operated a vehicle on someone else's behalf.

He said they were advised that people who fell within that category should apply for the salary relief grant and food cards.

Attempts to contact Sinanan on the matter were unsuccessful.