AG: Uber not legal in TT

“I am certain that they are not legal because our laws prohibit that, that has been spoken to about by our Minister of Transport,” he told Newsday yesterday.

Al-Rawi said the question of insurance coverage for passengers remains an issue on Uber transportation, which offers “ride sharing” as it does for private for hire (PH) taxis. “One provision that takes care of one of the main obstacles, which stood in the way of PH regulation, and that is the provision of insurance.

“That allows a new conversation to happen in the sector which involves public transportation which would be ride sharing, PH drivers, taxis or maxis because it is a fairly large industry in our jurisdiction,” Al-Rawi said. Uber Technologies Inc, an American worldwide online transportation network company head-quartered in San Francisco, California, operates the Uber app, which allows consumers with smartphones to submit a trip request, which the software programme then automatically sends to the Uber driver nearest to the consumer, alerting the driver to the location of the customer.

However, local drivers, taxis, maxi taxis and PH operators protested against the move saying this would take away from their business.

The question was again raised about the legality of their operations, and whether they were still actually functioning.

The AG said he could not say whether Uber was operating or not. “But, what I can tell you is that the AG’s Office is certainly looking at the concept of their decision to treat with on their ride sharing arrangements,” he said.

Al-Rawi said it was a process that would require consultation since there was obviously an unregulated practice of PH drivers in the country which could probably prompt a call out for equal treatment and a conversation with established taxis and maxi taxis.

“There is a very necessary articulation on a matter such as this.

There may be the cry that persons who bothered to go and be licensed for hire cars (taxis) are subjected to higher financial burdens than persons who may be ride sharing or informal sharing such as PH drivers,” he said.

However, a message from a spokesperson from Uber, yesterday, stated, “Uber is a legally established entity in Trinidad and Tobago.

We have been and will continue to work with the Government to progress a framework.” Several attempts to reach acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan went unanswered yesterday.