San Fernando/PoS taxi fare hike deferred till September

THE proposed $5 increase in taxi fare for the San Fernando to Port of Spain route has been deferred until September 1. Hayden Whiskey, president of the San Fernando /Port of Spain Taxi Drivers’ Association, made the announcement on Friday at a press conference at the taxi stand at King’s Wharf.

“We will operate at the current fare of $17 until September 1.”

On the reason for the eventual increase, he said, "The decision is based on the fact that we have been absorbing all the overhead costs and operating for the past five years.” The last increase, in 2015, was from $15 to $17.

However, he went on, “We know that covid19 poses a lot of challenges to a lot of people. We are a reasonable association. We are all in this together.”

Last week the association announced that the new fare, $22, would take effect on Monday. Whiskey said some drivers believe the fares should be adjusted immediately.

“But we had to listen to everyone. We must take into consideration the challenges that face everyone and the views of our loyal passengers who have been rallying with us throughout all of this. Besides being taxi drivers, we are fathers, brothers and providers.” Even before the pandemic, Whiskey said, the association had discussed “adjusting” the fare.

He apologised to passengers on behalf of all taxi drivers for what he called the recent poor quality of service. Some, he said, were not leaving the stands “with any degree of urgency” while passengers are seated. “We will offer a more timely service to the travelling public,” Whiskey vowed as he also called on passengers to do their part.

“Work with us and stop supporting the bullies on the side. Use the taxi at the front of the line. We are loading from the first one.” He encouraged passengers to leave home early if they want to reach their destinations early, adding the taxi drivers do not have helicopters or planes.

Less than two weeks ago, the Prime Minister announced that $6 million had been allocated to provide fuel grants to registered maxi-taxi and taxi operators.

This was to compensate them their losses during the pandemic. Drivers are operating at 50 per cent of their passenger capacity.

But Whiskey told reporters that about 90 per cent of the drivers do not qualify for the grant. A prerequisite for it is that the total income of a household must not exceed $10,000. “Many drivers pay a monthly instalment of $6,000 to $8,000 for their vehicles. To earn a living means they would cross the threshold of $10,000. “Some of our drivers qualified and we are glad for the help. We thank the government.”