Taxi drivers seek assistance against illegal cabs

Taxi operators here say they continue to face unfair competition from unauthorized operators who solicit jobs from cruise ship passengers illegally

Specifically, the St. John’s Taxi Association, which operates in the Heritage Quay area, has been experiencing this issue.

In response to their concerns, Vice President Denis Friday Jnr. and Secretary Lesroy Jno Baptiste were invited to voice their complaints to the Cabinet.

The association requested a stronger police presence on cruise ship days to deter these ‘scab’ operators who are causing them economic harm.

The Cabinet noted the complaints and promised to strengthen the law to deter such behavior.

The unauthorized taxi cabs and private car owners are poaching cruise passengers and at times using unauthorised vehicles to carry tourists. The Cabinet has recognised that this is an illegal action that could ultimately lead to liability.

Moreover, besides the issue of unauthorised operators, the taxi association executive members also raised other concerns. They discussed the condition of many of the streets in St. John’s and much of the roadways leading to the popular tourist attractions on Antigua.

The Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, Lionel Max Hurst, identified some of the roadways, including parts of the All Saints Road, Jonas Road to Liberta, and Fig Tree Drive.

He announced that these roadways were already part of a priority list that has been compiled by the Ministry of Works and which are earmarked for improvements before yearend.

Hurst added that Antigua has more than 400 miles of road, and floods and excessive rainfall have caused many of the street surfaces to deteriorate rapidly.

He noted that a new method using roll-out concrete is being relied upon to repair street surfaces as they were poorly-built during the previous administration.