The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Baha Mar executives dimissed assertions by a taxi union leader that it was effectively copying his reform proposals for the industry, describing its plans as far more extensive.

Richard Johnson, president of the Public Service Drivers Union (PSDU), said he was disappointed with how Baha Mar had decided to proceed with efforts to modernise the taxi cab industry.

He told Tribune Business: “It’s deja vu for me all over again”. Mr Johnson said he had approached Baha Mar with a similar proposal, but the developer was now moving forward with an arrangement with the rival Bahamas Taxi Cab Union.

Baha Mar executives, though, said that while Mr Johnson had advocated on issues addressed in Baha Mar’s proposal, its work was notresort-specific and was far more extensive.

Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice-president, said: “We have met with all key stakeholders, including Mr Johnson, to share our thoughts on how the taxi cab service might be enhanced.

“Mr Johnson’s proposal focuses on giving franchise title to franchise holders, to be used as collateral for financing. This is only one small area of what we have asked the Government to consider to modernise the taxi cab service.”

Baha Mar executives recently told Tribune Business that the developer was aiming to “raise the product and profile” of the taxi cab industry to ensure it reflects the major tourism-related investments and upgrades in New Providence.

Tribune Business understands that the proposal involves the upgrade of the taxi fleet via new vehicles, which will be outfitted to give wi-fi access to passengers. It is also designed to end the moratorium on plates by allowing the incorporation of 200-250 new licences in the industry, helping to establish a new franchise system.

Mr Johnson told Tribune Business: “I am very disappointed with the people at Baha Mar. For the last 10 year or so we have been trying to get the Government to do three things.

“One was to get the outright ownership of the taxi franchise; to support us in the valuation; and for us to be responsible for the transportation services from the docks, the airports and the hotels.

“Successive governments, for reasons only known to themselves, have refused to allow us to take control of our business, and historically the taxi drivers are very much a part of our national development. We have been independent small business people from day one. Over the years we have demonstrated that we are responsible business people.”

  Mr Johnson added: “They talked with the Bahamas Taxi Cab Union on doing some business with them, despite the fact that I had approached them with a proposal.

“They are using this very proposal to work with the Taxi Cab Union to our exclusion and that is not fair. That has to be addressed. This is like deja vu for me because when Atlantis first came here the Bahamas Public Service Drivers union was the first transportation  body to approach them on the provision of transportation. Mr Sol Kerzner at the time wanted to work  but there was political interference and that did not work out.”