The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A taxi union leader said yesterday that with a ‘comfort letter’ from the Government now “in hand”, and the endorsement of a major resort developer, he was seeking the support of all drivers and franchise holders for the industry’s independence.

Richard Johnson, the Public Service Drivers Union’s (PSDU) president, told Tribune Business that it had finally secured the long-desired ‘comfort letter’ from the Government via the Ministry of Finance.

He explained that this would provide reassurance to Bahamian commercial banks and international agencies, which were prepared to financially support the proposal.

The PSDU has been long agitating that the industry transition from one that is government-controlled to an enterprise owned, and run, by taxi franchise holders.

“That is what we have been seeking, and a I now have that in hand,” Mr Johnson said of the letter.

“To formalise it I was instructed by the Prime Minister to get the support of both the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Transport. We are hopeful that we will get that. That meeting is supposed to take place.”

Mr Johnson added: “We also got the endorsement of Baha Mar for the outright ownership of the franchises.”

Mr Johnson said the PSDU was launching a campaign to seek the signature of all taxi drivers who support the outright ownership to the industry.

The PSDU has told this newspaper in the past that there are 2,500 taxi franchises in existence today. It has been seeking to obtain from the Government a comfort letter, the support of a valuation of the franchises by an accounting firm, and the responsibility for transportation services from Prince George’s Dock, the airport and the hotels.