Corruption from ‘captain down to cook’ @ TPP dock- Taxi Operators
The man, who preferred to remain anonymous, spoke to Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview on Wednesday November 30, 2016. He said the issues mostly arise from the line system where they are to await their turn in getting a load of tourists.
He even went as far as saying the Minister for Communications and Works, Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) and Director of the Taxi and Livery Commission, Mr Dameon Percival were also contributing to the alleged corruption.
Some of the “thorns in his hide” that he mentioned were persons coming out from government jobs and taking a group of passengers and “switching the passengers to another bus with someone else” and then returns to work.
He further said there are some who do not have a safari license yet the system allows them to drive in the line and in some cases, many don’t even own vehicles but are waiting in the line. The final accusation was that there is a government body set up to control the taxi operators, but is really there to “make money for themselves.”
“There is the situation at the Cruise Ship dock and the taxi men are very displeased with what is happening on the dock,” he said.
Mention was also made of a meeting that was scheduled to take place some time ago which was canceled since the Minister was not able to attend “for a stupid reason,” according to the irate taxi driver.
“We need to address all those things, so if we have to do it on VINO, we have to do it on VINO, this is really sad, the public needs to know that they are running a corrupt system. We put a livery system in place so that everybody can benefit,” he ranted. “We need to run a better system for all…this is the worse that I have ever seen.”
The man said he has been operating the taxi business for close to 25 years now.
“I want the government to pull up on it.”
‘Government corrupt is nothing new’
Meanwhile, another taxi operator whose comments we sought on the allegations said the whole Government being corrupt is nothing new.
“The whole government is corrupt, so tell us something that we don’t know,” he said.
The veteran taxi operator also went on to blame the government for the issues affecting taxi operators at Tortola Pier Park.
“They are the ones causing all of this stuff going on because from the beginning they talk about they trying to make the destination all high end and now the ships that are coming, they are not ships that everybody can make money off. The ships are booked and from what I see for the rest of the season, if you are not working with an agent you are up the creek without a paddle.”
He also pointed to the vendors at Crafts Alive complaining since no one is bringing the tourists at their location.
“So you hear them vendors down at Crafts Alive because nobody coming to them because the ships that the government allows to come in they are organised. And if they cannot get anything from Crafts Alive they ain’t sending nobody there.”
He said the real question that has to be asked to the authorities is why are they entering into deals with cruise lines that has no trickling down to the man on the street, adding that on the other hand taxi operators have the option of organising themselves and advertising their business to the world so that they too can get their equal slice of the pie.
Attempts to reach Mr Percival or the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication and Works, Mr Anthony S. McMaster were not successful up to time of publication.
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18 Responses to “Corruption from ‘captain down to cook’ @ TPP dock- Taxi Operators”
Wow! So instead of putting an organisation together and approaching the ships directly with their ideas, they blame Government again. The only thing government should get involved with is facilitating (where valid), direct dialogue between the drivers' association and the ships themselves to see what possibilities exist. The cruise industry has always been organized with agents involved etc. to ensure prepaid passengers enjoy seamless service, which they are paying top dollar for. Everyone will complain because they think someone else is making more than them, which is sad. Why do these people think Government should hold their hands for anything? There are agents that invest heavily in staff, vehicles, marketing etc. and these guys expect to just drive a taxi up to the pier and walk away with thousands? INVEST IN YOUR CRAFT AND STOP THE $%^&* WHINING!
And they don't have manners either!
The time to choose is now!
One Love!