NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Our News caught up with the President at the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union, Tyrone Butler, at the Union’s headquarters on Nassau Street on Monday to get an update on their calls to have their fares increased.
He says this:
Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union
“Unfortunately no we haven’t had any success in getting any meetings with the minister or the prime minister but that doesn’t mean that we don’t continue to try. We are continuing, but we did send some follow up communication, written communication to the minister. We are addressing another follow up letter to the prime minister. And so we continue to use all of the options that’s available to us to see what happens.”
The union’s push for a $5-dollar fare increase comes as taxi operators say the cost of keeping their vehicles on the road continues to climb.
Drivers have pointed to spiking fuel prices, higher vehicle maintenance and repair costs, insurance and other operating expenses are eating into their earnings.
They say the proposed increase would help offset those expenses and make it more viable to remain in the industry.
Butler met with Prime Minister Philip Davis in mid-September, but says there’s been no resolution.
Meanwhile, he says some drivers are growing increasingly frustrated, and want to take their protest to the streets.
Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union
“I can tell you there’s a number of drivers in our network that’s really frustrated and they want to do a sit out, [but] to be honest with you…we have advised them against it because it’s really not a good time…the economy is struggling and things are very slow.”
Butler says the Union has been urging drivers to hold off, particularly as the country enters a critical period for tourism and business remains slow.
Despite this, he says that patience should not be mistaken for a willingness to back down.
Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union
“And so we will do what is necessary to protect our rights and we aren’t concerned with anybody using any threats of locking us up because taxi drivers have been locked up before. So we’re not interested in all of us this run around that the government is trying to give us…”
