Ministers declare end to taxi drivers bid for Port business

Following complaints from taxi operators at the Bridgetown Port that they are not getting work from cruise vessels, two ministers declared an end to their plight on Wednesday.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport Senator Lisa Cummins and Minister of Maritime Affairs and Blue Economy Kirk Humphrey who met with taxi operators at the Bridgetown Port said it is expected that once cruise ships return to Barbados, taxi drivers will be able to benefit from the vessels’ presence.

Humphrey said that despite conversations with cruise liners, even at this time, some vessels, through correspondence to passengers onboard were insisting that taxi operators won’t be able to transport visitors around the island.

He and Senator Cummins co-chaired a meeting with the Royal Caribbean Line where Barbados’ position on the issue was made clear and that with immediate effect, authorized taxi operators must be able get work, he said.

Humphrey explained: “Given the conversations that the Bridgetown Port and BTMI and the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs would have had with the ships, it was our belief that once the ship came to Barbados that the smaller taxi associations would have been given the opportunity to take on the bubble tours the persons on board the vessels as well.

“Unfortunately, that was not the case, I had received a letter that was given to the guests on board the ship previously that only tours that were booked onboard the ship which would have been with the larger tour operators would have been allowed to disembark. And what that meant in essence is that the persons who would normally get off and book a taxi would not be able to do so. Now that is regrettable.”

The minister noted that over the summer, taxi operators, most of whom were vaccinated, were trained in following the COVID-19 protocols, and should be given a fair opportunity to get work.

Senator Cummins who described the conversation with the partners as robust, said it is not possible in the halls of Parliament to navigate the rights and enfranchisement of vendors, while simultaneously at the Bridgetown Port, there were operators who were unable to earn a living and a livelihood from the cruise industry that they have served.

Senator Cummins said: “We have every confidence, Minister Humphrey and I and the Government of Barbados, that the same taxi operators that worked with us throughout the pandemic, that took persons from the Grantley Adams International Airport to quarantine hotels, that took persons from quarantine hotels in some instances to facilities where they were able to benefit from medical care.

“That those same taxi operators that benefitted from training under the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc so they are consistent with the COVID-19 monitoring protocols, that the same taxi operators that were able to work with us when times were hard, we have every confidence that those taxi operators equally have an opportunity and the capability to service our cruise lines as we welcome them back.”

President of the Independent Sea Port Taxi Union, Anthony Eastmond, said it has been difficult for taxi operators as they have been unable to ply their trade. Eastmond said he was now satisfied that the ministers and relevant stakeholders stepped in to speak to cruise liners regarding allowing passengers to book with authorized Bridgetown Port taxi operators.

Eastmond said: “Whatever little we get at this time will be able to help us and our families. So yes, we are very upbeat about having the cruise lines return to the shores. We are here to provide a service within the Bridgetown Port and whenever called upon we have always responded in a positive way. So yes, we will continue transportation needs for the cruise lines, the passengers, whoever.” (AH)