Taxi Drivers Fed Up With Parking on the Street, Says Union President

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – Taxi drivers are now threatening to take industrial action, as the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union said their drivers have been left to park on the street, as early as 4 am due to strict parking rules.

Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union

“The same government that some of these drivers vote for is now saying screw you we’re gonna get you out of our parking lot so they locked them out and now they’re parking on the street”

Taxi drivers around the Nassau Cruise Port area are fed up with parking conditions downtown.

They are already operating in a cramped space, they say they feel caught between a rock and a hard place, and are alleging they are being forced to operate between two parking lots.

Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union

“The cruise port decided they don’t want taxi drivers parking in here before 4 am a lot of them have been using the old parliament parking lot across the street that serve as a holding pattern for this one when it opens at four and that kind of work for a while and we tried to work with that system, but then our own government that is responsible for that parking lot across the street to decided that they don’t want a taxi drivers there”

For those who question why they’re there so early….

Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union

“The driver is up to do a number of any I mean any number of things just to get in a good spot to get a good job and so we support them and whatever they have to do because the thing about taxi drivers if they don’t work they don’t get pay. Please allow the taxi drivers to park in there. Say to the cruise port. Please open up this parking lot so the taxi so we can keep the streets open and let’s be civil.”

Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union

“We still have officers writing up taxi drivers who has nowhere to park come in they’re just trying to get in the parking lot and right now we have officers so you know writing tickets “

Butler said that they’ve met with Prime Minister Philip Davis, Transport and Energy minister, Jobeth-Coleby Davis, and tourism minister, Chester Cooper,

After conversations they still have no relief and he said that industrial action may be on the table.

Tyrone Butler – President, Bahamas Taxi Cab Union

“And what’s next ? Is there industrial action planned ?Absolutely. And what does that look like ?I can tell you right now, but I just I put my confidence in the drivers who drive from this port when we go there, they will be behind me”