Maxi boss unaware of motion against PTSC

VICTOR GEORGE, president of  the Route 2 Maxi-Taxi Association, yesterday said neither he nor the association was involved in any Constitutional Motion against the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC). Through their attorney, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, some maxi-taxi owners and operators have sued the PTSC for charging them a user’s fee of $1 per exit trip from City Gate. They say it is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect. The Constitutional Motion states that Government broke its promises to the maxi owners and operators. The promises were reportedly made to them by the then United National Congress (UNC) government to induce them to move from Broadway to City Gate. According to other particulars set out in the motion, the maxi taxi owners and operators say their fundamental right to the enjoyment of their property has been infringed by the PTSC by taking their monies as user’s fee.

When contacted, Victor George said he would not bother with “a bunch of misguided” owners who are being used in order that somebody’s pockets can be filled. “As far as the association and its executive are concerned, some people are worrying about the wrong things. They should worry about the $300 per quarter they pay for use of the Priority Bus Route and worry about the dollars they pay the touts, and worry about the safety of their passengers.” Noting that agreement to pay the user’s fee was reached on August 6 2001 at a meeting between the Transport Commissioner, Nathaniel Douglas; PTSC’s chief executive officer, Eddison Isaacs, the association and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Mobile), Winston Matthews, George said, “It was agreed that the user’s fee of $1 per exit would be shared between the PTSC and the association on a 75-25 basis. In other words, the PTSC would get 75 cents and the association, 25 cents.

George noted that it was agreed that the user’s fee would be used to establish pension and health plans for members. “It was when Ramesh Maharaj was attorney general that agreement was reached, so he should know everything about it. “There was no problem with the user’s fee when he was the attorney general in the UNC government, but now he is out, he sees a problem. Such is life,” said George. PTSC CEO Eddison Isaacs said he could not comment on something he had not been officially informed about. In 2001, when the agreement was signed between the PTSC and the association, Isaacs said the average cost of maintaining the facility was over $250,000 per month, a figure that did not include capital works, finance charges or interest payments on loans.