Taxi terrors

They carry large wads of cash.

They travel at late hours. They cover desolate routes.

But in recent weeks, there have been increasing reports of taxi drivers being murdered, both behind the wheel and while off duty. The situation calls for a revival of the debate on the question of regulating PH drivers. It also merits specific police engagement and requires teamwork among drivers themselves.

On Sunday, Doodnath Beharry, 44, a maxi-taxi driver, was shot and killed in what police believe was a robbery gone wrong. He was found inside his vehicle at an agricultural estate near Econo Guest House, St Helena.

On August 12, PH driver Ossie Callender, 23, of Marabella, was shot once to the back of his head while inside his car along the San Fernando/Marabella route. Officers found Callender’s body slumped in the driver’s seat of his blue Nissan Primera.

Weeks earlier, on July 21, the body of PH driver Kurt Levero, 43, was discovered at Battoo Avenue, Marabella. He was slumped over the wheel of his Nissan Almera.

Additionally, there have been instances where taxi drivers have been murdered off-route, in circumstances which still remain unclear.

On July 25, PH driver Kerwyn Michael Prescott, 26, was shot and killed while speaking with his family, standing outside his home in Trou Macaque, Laventille.

On August 10, Troy Lane, a Malick PH driver, escaped death shortly after 3.30 pm when a gunman armed with a semi-automatic weapon fired 12 shots in his direction opposite Cost Cutters Supermarket in El Dorado.

And back in April, PH driver Nicholas John was killed in Belmont while liming at the roadside.

These matters are all subject to police investigation. It will be for the law enforcement authorities to get to the bottom of what is behind each of these cases and to gleam if there is any relationship between them.

But the picture painted cannot be ignored. Thousands travel in taxis.

They are, potentially, in danger.

The taxi drivers themselves certainly believe they are being deliberately targeted.

“It has been getting worse,” said president of the Taxi Drivers Network Adrian Acosta in an interview yesterday. And criminologist Professor Ramesh Deosaran views the situation as one which calls for everyone to be on the lookout.

Undoubtedly, all taxi drivers provide an important service. Our roads can accommodate only so many cars. And the number of people who can afford to invest in a car is limited.

Yet, the crime situation has eaten into the pool of drivers on the road.

As noted by president of the Belmont Taxi Drivers’ Association Richard Vaughn, licensed taxi drivers have opted to curb their hours of operation and have restricted their routes. This has left gaps in the market which have been plugged by PH drivers.

Many commuters, such as workers reporting for duty late at night or early in the morning, rely on PH taxis. Ordinary commuters, too, have little choice but to rely on PH cars if, for instance, they live in hotspot areas. For example, though Belmont and Gonzales are side by side, Belmont taxis will not drive into Gonzales.

Filling the gap, though, comes with a price. PH drivers end up plying the most dangerous routes in order to make a living.

What can be done? One suggestion is to have police patrols at taxi stands, a measure which is already to some extent in place since police have increased their patrols at urban centres.

But there needs to be a rationalisation of the public transport system.

And drivers themselves need to close ranks. In addition to being discerning, they must develop networks and look out for each other.

While passengers are sometimes robbed, thankfully they are not being killed. We should not wait and see. This is a new challenge. The trend must be reversed.