Struggling PSV owners seeking tax ease or concessions

The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) will be formally approaching the Minister of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship demanding either a reduction in the country’s exorbitant gas prices or special concessions to keep the heads of stakeholders above water.

Communications, Information and Marketing Officer Mark Haynes on Monday declared that AOPT-represented taxi operators have been crippled by the pandemic and are in some cases going home empty-handed after a full day’s work.

Traditional route taxis (ZR) and minibuses who continue to travel at limited capacity are also said to be ailing severely because of the steadily increasing cost of petrol, which is currently at $3.99 a litre.

“This is a vexing situation which continues to permeate Barbados. It continues to affect all of these gentlemen who do not make a lot of money on a daily basis. They still have to put gas in their cars and it is hard on these guys with these gas prices,” Haynes told journalists.

“Against this backdrop, we will be officially writing to the minister with a view to discussing this matter in a professional way so that we will get some assistance going forward.

“These prices are really astronomical and it cannot continue. It keeps on going up. It is putting pressure on this fraternity as well as our ZR fraternity and, by extension, Barbadians. Everybody is feeling it at the pump. So it is hard on these guys and we hope that the Government will be amenable to reducing taxes on gasoline,” the AOPT representative added.

At the negotiating table, the alliance intends to propose the removal of Value Added Tax (VAT), excise tax or the reduction of both and, according to the communications officer, Government will be asked to move with “alacrity” to reverse the “outrageous” and “untenable” situation.

“Equally, if you are not going to remove the excise tax or the Value Added Tax, please, I am calling on the Government of Barbados to perhaps give some concessions to the taxi fraternity and give some concessions to the ZR community,” Haynes proposed.

“Concessions can come in different forms and the Minister of Small Business has ways and means at his disposal. They have the technocrats and the various economists in the different ministries who can recommend to Government mechanisms that they can use to help these gentlemen who are working hard,” he added.

His comments came during the presentation of cheques to the tune of $1 000 to members who operate out of the taxi stand at Heroes’ Square in the City. The monies were made available to 50 AOPT members from the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, following representations from AOPT officials.

“Taxi operators would tell you some days they can’t get a job from here and it is unfortunate because most or some of our taxi operators have turned to the road to become illegal, operating as pirates on the road,” AOPT president, Roy Raphael admitted.

kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb