The police yesterday admitted to a Joint Select Committee (JSC) that it is difficult to crack down on illegal PH (private for hire) taxi drivers across the country, saying if they do so the entire population would come down on them.
This is what the JSC on Land and Physical Infrastructure chaired by Deoroop Teemul heard in the J Hamilton Maurice Room of Parliament Building when they met with officials of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Rural Development and Local Government and the University of the West Indies’ Transportation Engineering department, as they examined the prospects of reducing traffic congestion on the nation’s roads.
UWI’s Transportation Engineering senior lecturer Trevor Townsend agreed that the country’s road transport system has been in a crisis, as it has been “undermanaged, disorganised and not user-friendly.”He said no significant work had been done to implement a mass transport system for commuters although it was needed.
Townsend said PH drivers have been taking bread out of the mouths of regulated taxi drivers, as their trade has been dwindling significantly over the years. He said the Inter-American Development Bank reported that 13,000 taxis operate in T&T.
“But ten years before there was 25,000 (hired taxis). Where have they gone? They have not seen it beneficial to remain as taxis,” Townsend said.
In 2010, then works and transport minister Jack Warner agreed to amend the Road Traffic and Motor Vehicles Act to give PH taxis the green light to operate in selected areas. However, the move by Warner was condemned by the T&T Taxi Drivers’ Network, who claimed legalising PH cars would give criminals an edge to operate. But this plan eventually fell by the wayside and illegal drivers continue to ply their trade.
Yesterday, Townsend said PH drivers who ply illegally on the St Ann’s route do so boldly in front of police officers and traffic wardens. He said while these drivers flout the law, the legitimate and bonafide drivers have to pay for their taxis badges and must get their vehicles inspected yearly.
“We can’t allow the PH trade to destroy the private sector-authorised public transport. In fact, right now we have PH maxi taxis operating in Maraval in white vans...I see some of them operating in Diego Martin too,” Townsend said.
While it is an offence for PH drivers to transport commuters, member Nigel De Freitas questioned what the T&T Police Service could do to take action against them. He also enquired if there was a way to convert the PH cars into regulated taxis so they can operate within the confines of the law. De Freitas admitted that no survey had been undertaken to determine how many PH drivers operate in T&T.
“So we have heard today that there is a need for PH vehicles. It is obvious it is pervasive in certain areas. It’s encroaching upon those who are doing the right thing and registering,” De Freitas said.
Chaguanas Borough Police inspector Ballyram Lalla said enforcement was possible but conceded there would be repercussions as well.
“But at the end of the day...if we as police officers on the nation’s roads....we enforce, the whole nation will come down on us because there is definitely need for a certain amount of transportation which is not available.”
Lalla said charging the drivers would result in another issue, as when they go before the courts “as it was earlier said, a man has to eat ah food. So the police becomes a target whereby we are putting undue pressure on the small man.”
He said in some cases, drivers who are charged also have their matters dismissed in court.