Taxi talks

The associations representing taxi operators in The City are expected to put several issues on the table next week when they meet with Government officials.

Officials of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) and the Barbados Taxi Alliance are expected to raise issues relating to the lack of bathroom facilities and shelter, as well as displacement of some taxi operators, when they meet with representatives of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc. next Thursday.

Chairman of the AOPT Roy Raphael said the displacement of taxi operators along the Fairchild Street location was yet to be resolved.

The taxi drivers, who used to ply their trade in the vicinity of the Jordan’s Supermarket, were displaced when work started at the Fairchild Street Vendors’ Market across the street.

“We are starting discussions shortly with the BTII. So the taxi guys are given the assurance that we will be updating them shortly,” said Raphael.

Secretary of the Barbados Taxi Alliance Sherry Oxley said some taxi operators have been raising questions about how soon they would be able to go back operating from the area between the vendors’ market and Jordan’s Supermarket along Fairchild Street.

Oxley said she was appealing to taxi operators to come forward with their concerns so they can get representation.

“Any problems that you have out there on the streets we ask that you come to us and let us know what is going on so that we will be able to, in the future, fight for all of us and for us to have a voice,” she said.

Raphael said he was concerned that whenever there was an event in Heroes Square taxi operators were also displaced.

In addition, he said there was a growing concern about the absence of bathroom facilities for the taxi operators in the capital and he would be putting forward representation for the erection of a shelter to protect them from the elements.

“We have the taxi guys here who complain that they don’t have a bathroom facility here in Heroes Square. We are going to also address that. We are also going to address the fact that when there is a lot of rain nobody comes to the taxi, so we are working on putting a temporary shelter similar to what you see when you go into Chefette drive-thru,” he said.