Santa Cruz Taxi Association concerned about PH drivers

In an effort to better protect their passengers from criminals, the Santa Cruz Taxi Drivers' Association said it intends to foster closer partnerships with the police by reporting suspected illegal activities among private hire (PH) taxi drivers.

Speaking with Newsday on Tuesday, public relations consultant of the association Marlon Khan said it was disturbed by the recent murder of 18-year-old Ashanti Riley, whose body was found in La Canoa, Santa Cruz, last Friday and was determined to do all in its power to prevent similar crimes.

Khan said legitimate, registered taxi drivers have faced threats and sometimes physical confrontations with PH drivers, and wants the police and the authorities to take a more proactive role in tackling illegal taxi drivers.

He said the association's members would also do their part in recording the licence-plate numbers of drivers suspected of being involved in illegal activities and reporting them to the police.

"It's not that we are taxi drivers and just doing this to make money. At the end of the day we have sisters, daughters and mothers, and this situation with women being unsafe in Trinidad is really becoming overbearing.

"We have compiled a database on drivers who have been involved in some illegal activities, and we forwarded it to various branches of the police service."

Khan said he hoped the authorities would partner with the association in protecting passengers and customers alike.

He also said the association has contacted Riley's relatives to offer its condolences.