Dr Fuad Khan: PH taxi regulation 10 years overdue

FORMER health minister and opposition MP Dr Fuad Khan says government should “rush to the Parliament to make the regulation of PH taxis law,” in the same manner it did with the mandatory mask-wearing legislation. He said this regulation is at least ten years overdue.

In a Facebook video on Friday, Khan was discussing the murder of 18-year-old Ashanti Riley.

Riley left her Sunshine Avenue, San Juan two weeks ago to visit her grandmother but went missing after getting into a PH taxi. She was found dead five days later in Santa Cruz.

Asked about the issue of PH taxis in Parliament last week, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said his ministry is in discussions with Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi.

But these discussions, he said, are not about possibly regulating the service, but to allow more drivers to become registered taxi drivers.

He reminded the public PH taxis are illegal, and called on people to “treat the system as such so as to assist the authority in leading those participating in this trade into the regulated environment provided for transportation in TT."

Speaking with Newsday on Sunday, Khan said it cannot continue to be a case where the regulation of PH taxis is only advocated for when tragic or fatal incidents occur. He believes it is something the public should continually be pushing for.

“You have a person driving a car, the person doesn’t own the car, there’s no registration for the passenger to look at to show the driver’s face, no specific number for the driver and the car number…”

He also spoke of drivers who get annoyed when people snap photos of their vehicle before entering.

“There should be nothing wrong with taking a picture of the driver and their license plate to send to someone before entering the vehicle.

“And equal precautions should be taken with female taxi drivers as some of them have been part of the problem. Some of them gave the disguise of comfort as it’s a female driver but had people waiting in their car to kidnap you, hold you, strangle you or to rob you.”

He said while the regulation of this service will not bring any definite end to violence against women, he believes it is a step in the right direction.

“Trinidad is going to get worse because people have no jobs, people are not working, people have no money, have no food as covid19 mash up the whole economy. So they have to go to Parliament to legislate this because it’s a very easy industry to commit crime in.”

Former works minister and opposition MP Surujrattan Rambachan is also advocating for the regulation of PH taxis.

In a release, he said lawmakers in TT “spend so much time in consultations and discussions that we never appear to act decisively.

“Our citizens are dying, and one death is one too many. And as lawmakers, we seem to be really pussyfooting and deserve to be kicked on our behinds for our recalcitrance.

“No system, no set of regulations will ever be perfect but we need to create a balance between safety and death or being raped and/or maimed.”

He said police have turned a blind eye towards the operation of PH taxis so often that “there are now seemingly authorised PH taxi stands.

“This is a case of negligence. It has given a kind of unofficial legitimacy to the PH drivers."

He said there are areas regular taxis would not venture to and with good reason, and that many turn to this form of income as sustainable jobs are not being provided.

“I can go on and on but it seems that the state is also guilty in not providing an adequate public transport system for people.

“I believe that the law must be upheld despite the social arguments in favour of PH drivers. It is because we excuse so much errant behaviour with social arguments that our laws seem inadequate and there is a breakdown. We cannot live in a society where laws are ignored. We cannot have a police service who are (sic) turning a blind eye.”

He said if the agreed viewpoint is that PH taxis are a necessity, then it must be regulated but not to the disadvantage of H cars.

If we agree that the PH drivers are necessary then it must be regulated. It has to be regulated but not to the disadvantage of the law-abiding H cars.

“Registration is a must, police character certificates are a must, vehicle inspection is a must and must take place every year, vehicles must not be more than five years old.

“Insurance to cover passengers must be provided by the owners and or drivers of such vehicles, PH cars must be zoned like maxi taxis. They will be required to paint their cars in special Colours and stripes as well as have stickers. In addition, each car in both the front seats and back seats must have displayed a framed copy of their permission and registration with a picture of the driver and telephone number.”

In addition to this, he said large fines must be imposed for violations and a special unit should be set up to oversee the system.

“The time to act is now. People are dying while we are discussing and discussing.”