Head of taxi network: Legalise pepper spray, get rid of PH drivers

Expressing concern about women's safety, the head of the TT Taxi Drivers’ Network (TTTDN) has called again for the authorities to clamp down on private hire (PH) drivers.

David Acosta also disagreed with the Prime Minister, who cast doubt on the possibility of pepper spray being legalised.

“He said it might cause more harm than good. I wish to disagree with that. Women should be given some opportunity to defend themselves when travelling at night,” Acosta said.

“All over the world, people are given the opportunity to protect themselves with the use of non-lethal weapons like pepper spray. I think we (TT) are backward in our thinking, and it should be made legal.”

Acosta made the comments at a press conference at the Macaulay Community Centre at Claxton Bay on Tuesday.

He sent condolences to the family of murdered 18-year-old Ashanti Riley. After getting into a PH car to visit her grandmother, Riley, of San Juan, went missing. Police found her body on Friday in Santa Cruz.

Yet again, Acosta criticised PH driv,ers accusing them of parking at taxi stands and threatening and bullying taxi drivers daily.

“PH drivers are getting out of hand. PH drivers are an issue it seems no one, whether the authority or citizens, wants to deal with,” Acosta said.

“It is unfair for us to be doing the same work, making the same money daily, and they are doing it illegally.”

Acosta said to become a taxi driver, people have to go through a rigorous process, including getting a certificate of character and passing a written and practical test.

TTTDN made several complaints, Acosta said, to people in authority like the Transport Minister, traffic wardens and police. But it seems no one is doing anything to get rid of the problems effectively, he said.

“People say there are places in the country where taxis do not work. We are saying that those PH drivers can become taxi drivers and ply the same area. Whether they are eating a food or providing a service, they should do it in the right way,” Acosta suggested.

“Do not wait until something happens again to talk about PH drivers.”

Acosta also complained about the lengthy wait for taxi badges, saying in most government institutions, taxi drivers are “seeing trouble to get things done.”

“Some people have to wait two weeks to three months to renew taxi badges,” he said.