The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

I have not written a letter to the editor for many years, but I am compelled to write after an experience last week.

I will address three issues but the third one is what compelled me.

1. Would appreciate if Road Traffic Department or its Comptroller would address this issue:

What is the Road Traffic’s protocol or law, as it relates to: Who has the right of way when a traffic light is malfunctioning?

I questioned a Police Officer and he indicated that the main road has the right to proceed. I then ask: Which is the main road – East Street or Shirley Street? The Policeman had a difficulty. My understanding is that it is a four-way road, please clarify.

1. This matter relates to the Police and the court system. I would like to make this suggestion: As soon as an accused pleads and a date for the trial is made, I am suggesting that the Commissioner of Police opens a website at Police headquarters so that secretaries at all the courts will post, at this website, the trial date; the name/s and rank of the Officer/s and the court where the trial will be held. I am suggesting that two days before the trial date, the secretaries at police headquarters, who will be responsible for this activity, call the police officer to remind him of his court date. This will give the officer time to check his files and be ready. Too many man hours are wasted when a Bahamian goes to court and there is no police there. I am recommending this method because secretaries at police H.Q. know every police officers’ phone number. They can alert them. Too many Bahamian hours are wasted because the police are not there. Let us be efficient.

2. I have been observing the situation on Prince George Dock for a while but last week was the worst I have seen. A taxi-driver approached a tourist and the tourist spat on the ground near the driver. I was happy that it did not go on the driver. I have been on the docks for years but never seen this before. I understand that the ships are advising their clients that piracy is a part of the Bahamas’ history and taxi drivers are a part of the criminal activity and I want the Bahamas government and the Road Traffic to defend my good name and character. I know that there are persons in the industry who are offensive. I am furious when I am included as a pirate.

I have some white friends who come to The Bahamas every year and they indicated to me, last year, that the ships are portraying us in a bad light. I also have a difficulty with the ships coming to The Bahamas, making money but telling the guest not to do business with me. This cannot be right; making money here, in my country, and telling the guest not to do business with me? This is not fair or right.

We all need to get our act together. You are making money in the Bahamas and I, a Bahamian, cannot?

The Bahamas Government and Road Traffic is not without fault. They know who the offenders are in the industry. They know who have electronic monitors. If you were to check the Bar Association or other professionals, they have a system where they remove from practising any offender, after trial before the associates. Taxi-drivers do not have this ability. The Comptroller of Road Traffic and the Board have this exclusive ability, but they do nothing that I have seen.

Whenever something unusual happens, the public and road traffic always say: It is the taxi drivers. Drivers do not have the ability to move anyone, but they always say taxi drivers; the irony of it all. This is so hypocritical.

Those of you who have responsibility for this industry, must get up off your rear end and take responsibility for what is happening, before things get worse.

I want to caution the ships, who come here, to be careful because some Americans and others, have “chips on their shoulders” already. Do not exacerbate this situation. All of you can do well in the Bahamas, but you cannot do well at our exclusion and to our detriment.

FELTON COX,

Nassau,

February 17, 2015