The rift between Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner and operators of red and green-band maxi taxis using the City Gate transportation hub is set to widen with the minister's plan to impose a new $3 tax on the drivers. Kelvin Pierre, president of the Green Band Maxi Taxi Association, which is based in Central, said operators would resist the tax.
"Warner is just being vindictive because we opposed him...But we are going to resist paying that $3," he said. "We have not formalised our approach...We are meeting today (Monday) to decide where we are going." Pierre said members of the travelling public might fear that maxi-taxi operators would want to raise fares if the $3 tax was imposed on them.
Linus Phillip, president of the Route Two Maxi Taxi Association (red band) coming from the East, said Warner seemed to looking for a confrontation with maxi-taxi operators. "I don't know if it will lead to a confrontation...I solemnly hope it would not," Phillip said. "I am calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to intervene in the matter, since Warner doesn't seem to be thinking with a level head."