TAXIS CHARGING FOR TRUNK SPACE

Newsday was also told that taxi drivers plying the Freeport Taxi Stand in St Mary’s Junction, were also demanding a $1 increase for the use of trunk space. Since the fare hike and the new addition of the trunk space fee effective August 7, several commuters have been forced to use maxi taxis.

Anita Parasan, of Edinburgh Village, Chaguanas, yesterday described the increased fare as “ridiculous.”

“It not fair. First time I hearing about this kind of nonsense. I travelling for years and always have to use the trunk of taxis and they never charge me for it. When you ask the drivers ‘why’, they bold enough to tell us ‘Hold yuh bags and walk home then’” Parasan said.

Taxi driver, Satesh Singh, told Newsday that he was only abiding by the new tariff handed out to some 150 taxi drivers of the Chaguanas/Couva/California Taxi Association. “I was given the tariff and I have to go by it because it would be unfair to the other drivers, if I do not go along,” Singh said.

Increased fares on the Freeport taxi as well, will take effect Monday. Taxi driver Rajnath Ramsaroop explained that the increase fares in both routes were due to the high prices for motor oil as well as an increased maintenance/mechanic fees.