PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Jun 1, CMC – Thousands of commuters, including students, were on Monday left scrambling for transportation after private bus drivers began a three day “rest and reflection” period over a number of issues, including outstanding arrears owed by the government and illegal competition on their designated routes.
President of the Association of Maxi Taxi Trinidad and Tobago (AMTTT), Eon Hewitt, said the bus operators from all six routes across the country are taking part in the action which will run until Wednesday.
“The membership gave me a mandate to shut down our routes,” he said, noting that he has had to restrain members angered by drivers of so called “white vans” conducting business along the routes designed for the official mini-buses.
Among the other issues are a request to increase the speed limit for maxi taxis from 65 km/h to 80 km/h, an issue raised since 2021, the transfer of maxi-taxi licences, the need for clear rules on transferring public service vehicle licences in cases involving death of an owner, serious illness, amnesty arrangements and open transfers.
In addition, they are calling for upgrading and better management of maxi-taxi stands and transport hubs nationwide.
The bus drivers also want outstanding payments owed to school transport operators, clear designation of pick-up and drop-off zones, particularly in Port of Spain and better arrangements for National Insurance Service (NIS) contributions for self-employed maxi-taxi operators.
Herwitt said he was also disappointed that Transport Minister, Eli Zakour, has been ignoring the pleas of the bus drivers over the past months.
“I sent videos to the Minister, I don’t, I don’t know, he does not speak to me, let me put it to you that way, he does not speak to me, and I have, I have my phone here, and I will be presenting my case this morning, that I have been sending things and showing this man, and he does not speak to me, right.
“In April, I was on the television, and I was outlining the situation with myself and the Minister, and I tell myself, as a responsible Minister, you understand, that he would have made contact, he did not.”
The association said that there are approximately 5,000 maxi taxis operating in the country.
The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association(TTUTA) expressing concern at the industrial action, is expressing concern that the action could adversely affect students who are writing the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) examinations.
“TTUTA is extremely concerned about this impasse with the Maxi Taxi Association and the commuters of Trinidad and Tobago, and that would include the children, students, the parents, and everyone who would normally use this service,” said “said TUTTA president, Crystal Ashe in a statement.
“And now we know that CXC is still going on, we are aware of that, and we would not want our students to be impacted. However, at the same time, TTUTA really understands the plight being experienced by these persons,” Ashe said, noting that he had been contacted by the maxi-taxi association and that they have been complaining about the non-payment of monies owed by the government.
He said they “they have not received anything more than a fortnight’s money for the year.So you’re talking about we’re moving into the sixth month for the year.
“Yes, the Ministry of Education is aware, but at the end of the day, those persons have to pay their mortgages for their properties, maybe for their maxis, they have to pay their loans and so on
“How are they going to pay their grocery bills? The Ministry of Education has to do what it has to do, man. You have to step up, and we are expected that the Ministry of Education will make good on this particular situation, and it ought not to have reached this situation.”
Ashe said that it is unfortunate that it has reached tto this situation urging the government, “to treat with these persons, please.
“Don’t just tell them you are aware. Get the money. Communicate with your Minister of Finance. The both of you seem to be missing in action. Please get together, and let us find a resolution so that the Maxi Taxi Association can get back to serving the people of Trinidad and Tobago,” Ashe added.
Commuters have complained of long delays to get transportation describing the routes in some areas a similar to a “ghost town”.
Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) president Gregory Aboud agreed that while the exact financial loss cannot yet be quantified, businesses are already navigating a difficult economic climate.
“What I can say is that at this time, we are experiencing some weakness in overall trade and business volume. Everybody’s talking about it,” Aboud said.
He added that while maxi taxi operators may have legitimate qualms and complaints, holding the country to ransom will be difficult for citizens to endure.
“The maxi taxi operators have legitimate complaints; we need to know what they are. We certainly don’t support the idea of them attempting to damage the operations of the T&T economy. And of course, they are hoping to damage it, because they are hoping to get some reaction from the authorities and from the public to cry out and say, ‘Look, please. Find out what these people want and try and solve it with them,” he told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper.
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