Taxi drivers against PH drivers

“That is our biggest problem. It is out of hand. It is affecting us badly and getting worse day by day,” Network president Adrian Acosta said. During a picket march Thursday outside the Ministry of Works and Transport, Acosta told reporters they are not seeing PH drivers being ticketed.

“Enforce the law! They are coming out more and more. There is a proliferation of PH drivers around our stands every day. We want action right now,” he said. The PH drivers, Acosta said, occupy prime spots behind or before taxi stands so that before the travelling public reaches the taxi stand they are picked up.

Acosta said that representatives of the network met with Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan in January about the issue and Sinanan said he would look into it. Prior to that meeting, Acosta said, they also met with former Transport Minister Fitzgerald Hinds who subsequently informed the network by way of letter that he was seeking legal advice.

“To date, no one is taking heed about what we keep saying.” Acosta said the authorities should ensure that these PH drivers regis ter, get their ‘H’ license and register for their taxi badges.

The length of time obtaining and renewing badges was another issue. “It takes three weeks to get the badges done when that could be done in a day. I am asking for that to be looked into,” Acosta said. On Uber, Acosta said this was “organised PH driving” and could also seriously affect taxi drivers if it takes a hold in TT.