Taxi drivers angered at not
being allowed to run booth
PHILIPSBURG--Despite a call by Transportation Commissioner Louie Laveist for taxi drivers to work to resolve their problems amicably and not “air their dirty linen in public,” three taxi drivers on Wednesday expressed their dissatisfaction with the association board for not giving a specially formed “Booth Committee” the authority to run a “taxi booth” at Dr. A.C. Wathey Cruise and Cargo Facilities.
Association members Louis Jeffers, José Marlin and Ottis Hughes told The Daily Herald the committee had been formed some time back with the blessing of the board. The committee had asked for the green light to run the booth, but Marlin said this had been denied.
The Committee, he said, had wanted to spread awareness of the taxi product by marketing taxi tours, beach tours and shop excursions. The committee had also wanted to use the booth to “engage in a creative marketing concept” to encourage more traffic to its Website and put a programme in place where drivers could also receive incentives.
The three members claimed that the booth had been rented out to a businessman for three years at US $500 per month and was finally closed in January 2007 when they “forced” the Board to “take it back.” They also claimed that efforts were being made to rent the booth to the same businessman in December 2007, but taxi drivers had objected to this.
The booth was eventually reopened in February, but the three taxi drivers said it was being managed by the board. The members said they had been told they couldn’t operate the booth as the board had its own ideas to operate it.
“The booth was contracted to the taxi association to further develop the taxi business,” Marlin said. He also said if anyone on the board was not adhering to the objective of the DSTA’s constitution, he should step down.
The three also dismissed allegations that their concerns were out of jealousy and said they were genuinely concerned out of interest in the taxi business.
Laveist had said on Wednesday that the taxi drivers shouldn’t fight their battle in public and called on them to resolve their disputes amicably in the best interest of their profession and the tourism sector to which they cater. (See related story)
