Complaining that the high cost of fuel was affecting their ability to afford a decent standard of living, taxi operators are calling for a further reduction in gas prices.
Taxi drivers who operate from the Grantley Adams International Airport are adamant that the recent fuel cap which came into effect last Friday is not enough.
In fact, they have suggested that Government lower the cap to $3.75 per litre or simply remove or reduce the fuel tax of 40 cents per litre that was implemented in 2018.
One taxi driver who gave her name as Claire Brathwaite said while she did not believe taxi drivers necessarily needed a special rate, the price of gas was still too expensive.
“The price reduction should be across the table for everybody because there are some people who use their vehicles to drive just as much as taxi drivers. The $3.75 is a good price. For the week I ain’t really make nah money because you get a one job today and a one job tomorrow and by the time Friday come you want fuel and you have to put back in the same money so you don’t have nothing much to carry home to your family,” Brathwaite told Barbados TODAY.
Another driver who declined to give his name also complained about the high prices.
He said business had decreased substantially, while fuel had increased significantly.
“We aren’t making that kind of money to begin with. We are only getting one job a day and that’s hard for us. I feel taxis should get a special rate but the $3.75 isn’t bad,” he said.
An operator, Walcott, said he had been driving taxi since 1975.
He too argued that the cap was not enough and said Government had several other options to give not only taxi operators but all motorists an ease.
“These people really in fact don’t know what they are doing. These are total misfits and you can’t have so many consultants and that is what you come up with,” the veteran driver said.
“Anything that goes beneath what we are currently paying will be helpful to be honest. That 40 cents that they already put on, if they don’t want to remove it completely then you can drop it by half because you’ve already made more than you really wanted and it will continue. People will continue to buy petrol, so therefore you will still get back the amount that you expect.”
Another long-serving taxi operator said he did not understand why they could not receive a subsidy on fuel similar to that given to the Transport Board.
He said that would make their jobs much more comfortable and allow them to make more profit.
