Uber told they’re breaking TT’s laws

He could not say however if the location-based app would be suspending its services in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) until it is fully-compliant with all of the country’s taxi and financial regulations.

“It seems that somewhere along the line, somebody did not advise Uber about a lot of the things that they should be concerned about.

A lot of questions we asked this morning (Tuesday) seemed to be new to Uber but they’ve committed to follow-up and to supply our legal team with the information that is required.” Sinanan also told Newsday that Attorney General (AG) Faris Al Rawi informed Uber’s two local and two foreign representatives about the relevant tax laws “because this is a business earning revenue.” “The AG was quite accurate in pointing out the company laws, how we operate in TT, how we reimburse taxes and so forth. I think they have a lot of information now to supply to the AG’s Office. We’ll take it from there.” Sinanan was speaking with Newsday yesterday following a meeting with Uber’s local and foreign representatives, Al Rawi, Transport Commissioner Wayne Richards, and a senior police officer who was there on behalf of Acting Police Commissioner, Stephen Williams.

That meeting, held to discuss the legality of Uber’s TT operations under this country’s existing laws, took place at the ministry’s head office on Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain. It began at about 10 am yesterday and ended a little after 11.30 am. When asked if Uber would be allowed to continue operating while it gathers the requested information, Sinanan said while it is up to the company to decide what it wants to do, Uber has been advised that they are “virtually breaking the law.” “We pointed that out to them and said we are not in a position to give anybody a grace period to break the law...I don’t know if Uber is going to, after this meeting, recognise that they are breaking the laws of TT and suspend their services until they are in compliance. I don’t know if they are going to do that but I expect that the police and Licensing Division; who were present and who know what is going on, will do what should be done,” Sinanan declared.