Taxi drivers to Get fare increase for first time in 13 years

The news that taxi fares will soon be increased for the first time in more than a decade is being welcomed as an early Christmas gift for taxi operators.

President of the Barbados Transport Cooperative Society Delwyn Layne and president of the Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-operative Adrian Bayley said the hike is long overdue and will allow people in the industry to earn a meaningful living.

Their comments follow the disclosure by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Works and Water Resources Santia Bradshaw that Government had “favourably considered” the application by operators for a fare increase.

Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Compact involving members of the transportation sector on Friday morning, she said operators deserved the increase.

“As it relates to the taxi operators, we had a very interesting meeting a few months ago where there was much discussion regarding the increase of the rate for taxi operators. I can say to you that the proposed rate has been favourably considered by the Cabinet of Barbados.

“The order is actually being prepared and that announcement will come shortly in terms of the actual rate setting for taxis and that is also included in this MOU. We have agreed to standardise the rate and that would give some level of certainty to the industry, in terms of being able to plan their business accordingly. Further to that, it will also be in recognition that after I believe, 10 years of not having an increase in the rate for the taxi fares, that taxi operators would now have that opportunity to at least see some light at the end of the tunnel,” Bradshaw said.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY moments after the announcement, Layne and Bayley expressed their satisfaction.

Layne, who represents taxi operators at the Grantley Adams International Airport, said the hike was a long time coming and he appreciated it.

“The taxi rates at the airport . . . are long in need of being increased. The last increase we had was in 2009. The airport, unlike some other areas, deal in the capacity luggage and sometimes you can find two individuals and 13 pieces of luggage, so to travel with that kind of weight and for that kind of money, sometimes with the price at the airport it doesn’t profit you sometimes to come work because it sometimes takes more money in fuel to get to the airport and back than the job costs.

“You have jobs at the airport that are as little as $13 and there is a rotation system so you don’t know on the particular day what you’re going to get and that’s one of the things that really hurts the taxis at the airport,” Layne said.

He added that he hoped luggage was taken into consideration in working out the quantum of the increase.

“There should be some increment with the luggage…. Just like how the red caps are paid per luggage, passengers should have to pay for each piece of luggage,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Bayley welcomed the move, charging that taxi operators had been forced to subsidise fuel costs for the past 14 years.

“It’s been long in waiting for these rates of increase for the taxi operators in Barbados across the board,” he said.

“All of us have been under immense pressure. We have had to subsidise fuel prices for over the past 14 years, so whatever the Government is doing here today to approve an increase for rates for the operators in Barbados, I’m very appreciative of it,” Bayley said.

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb