A case for short drops in St James

THE EDITOR: “Ah stoppin short driver!” This is a common phrase that can be heard in taxis and maxi taxis all over Trinidad with the exception of St James.

Ever since I’ve been a commuter, there has never been a short drop fare along the Port-of-Spain to St James route unlike most other routes. This was never a problem to me, after all the fare was just $2. Recently however the St James Taxi Drivers’ Association decided to increase the fare from Port-of-Spain to St James to $3.00. I have no problem with the increase because the fare has been $2 for some 20 years. As a result of the increase though I believe the travelling public ought to demand that a short drop fare be implemented along this route. Presently if you travel from the Queen’s Park Oval to Long Circular Road which is less than half mile, the fare is $3 because there is no short drop.

This is ridiculous and needs to be addressed immediately. For me alone, I would walk but what about the old, sick and infirm or even young children? How can a passenger be required to pay $3 for less than half mile of transportation when that same $3 is the taxi fare from Port-of-Spain to Diego Martin, which is approximately eight to nine miles? Trinidadians are really too laid back and docile when it comes to their consumer rights.

ROGER MOHAMMED
Diego Martin