By DENISE MAYCOCK
Tribune Freeport Reporter
dmaycock@tribunemedia.net
Freeport taxi drivers claim their livelihoods are at stake, especially now that Grand Bahama's major hotel property has closed its doors.
Many of them have made a decent living over the past 35 years, but in the last few years tour operators have captured a dominant share of the transportation business on the island.
Today, taxi drivers move only a small percentage of visitors at the harbour and airport. It is believed that a single tour operator is transporting as much as 80 per cent of the cruise ship passengers.
Another issue are the illegal shuttle services operated by some hotels and shipping agents.
Taxi driver Wayne Rolle said now more than ever their livelihoods are in danger.
“I have been driving 24 years and it the absolute worst I have ever seen it, and it is like that because of all the illegal activities going on in the transportation business,” he claimed.
Grand Bahama Taxi Union President David Jones said cab drivers at the airport are barely surviving.
“It is really terrible at the airport; they are struggling badly down there on the taxi line,” he said.
The situation at the harbour is slightly less dire. The Grand Celebration cruise ship, which sails from the port of Palm Beach, brings more than 1,300 guests to the island with each visit.
“We are holding our own (at the harbour), but the tour operators are dominating again. The airport is struggling, and we have a situation taking place at one of the hotels here,” Mr Jones said.
He told The Tribune he met with State Minister for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson at the beginning of this month to discuss issues plaguing them in Grand Bahama.
Former Prime Minister Perry Christie promised taxi drivers that the government would ensure that they a 50 per cent share in transporting cruise visitors at Freeport Harbour, but failed to deliver on that pledge.
While at the airport's taxi stand, The Tribune spoke with veteran cab drivers Wayne Rolle and Michael Albury about the problems they face.
Mr Rolle claimed that tour operators are illegally soliciting guests on the ground when the law states that all pre-arranged transportation must be booked 24 hours in advance of the ship’s arrival in port.
“They are selling jobs on the ground,” he said. "They have people in booths on the ground selling jobs at the harbour, and nothing is being done to stop it."
He claims that a survey conducted by the Ministry of Tourism found that a private tour company had captured more than 80 per cent of the business at the harbour.
“How we are supposed to survive with that?"
He also claimed that the tour operators are driving unfranchised vehicles despite a moratorium imposed since 1992.
“They buy buses and paint the name on the side without a franchise and are toting the (visitors),” he said.
Mr Rolle further alleged that shipping companies are purchasing buses to pick up and transport people from the harbour.
Michael Albury, a cab driver for 34 years, said tour operators are also moving large groups from the airport.
“Whenever the Italian charter (Alpitour) comes in I watch the buses come and leave full while we sit waiting for a job – some days we might get one, some days none,” he said.
Mr Rolle claimed that nothing is being done about the situation, despite complaints to Road Traffic authorities about illegal activities at the harbour.
He believes it is unfair that tour operators are bringing in unfranchised buses when not one single taxi was brought in since the moratorium was imposed on private charters and taxis in 1992.
Mr Jones claims that taxi drivers are also losing out on jobs at a local resort.
“The resort does not want taxi drivers on their premises anymore and it is using bonded and private vehicles to move the guests staying at their property,” he claimed.
He said this practice is illegal. “That is a serious issue, and we are trying to stop that before it gets too far,” he said.
Mr Jones is hopeful that their issues will be addressed by the new FNM administration.
Comments
proudloudandfnm 6 years, 8 months ago
If cab drivers would turn on their aur conditioners and stop making tourists wait in the hot sun while they look for more passengers they might be able to compete with tour operators. But no. They won't do a thing to improve their product. All they want is the money. They refuse to work for it. They want everything handed to them. I'd get in an air conditioned bus before I ever get in one of those run down, crammed up cabs.
BMW 6 years, 8 months ago
Gotta agree with you there my friend. Taxi drivers are a unruly bunch. Hotels dont want them on their property because they are loud obnoxios and rude.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 8 months ago
Will the ground transportation system ever be cleaned up in this country???? ........ Can taxi drivers, tour bus operators, public buses drivers and hackers (Uber) co-exist under the law??????
Gotoutintime 6 years, 8 months ago
The Cab-Drivers have only themselves to blame---Speaking to a number of tourists they say that the cabs are filthy and the drivers are rude---No tourist needs that!
DDK 6 years, 8 months ago
Not in all cases. Many taxi drivers take pride in their service and in their vehicles.
MassExodus 6 years, 8 months ago
Please can we introduce Uber to the Bahamas, and get rid of all the lazy, no-service providing, scam artist, taxi cabs? They ALL need to carry their ass. The only companies that provide decent services are the luxury SUV's with more sensible drivers, and their prices are still too high.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 8 months ago
The Bahamian Uber exists now ........ Bahrezy The traditional taxi driver has only himself and the obsolete Union to blame. Whatever happened to the yellow Mercedes taxis from the 1980s???????
MassExodus 6 years, 8 months ago
Who are the drivers thou? Can anyone drive or do you still have to be a licensed taxi within their union?
Shineye 6 years, 8 months ago
Wow!! Such ignorance of the previous comments to shut down Taxi/Cab drivers. Many families depend on these individuals. Many who are the parents of professionals today in every sector if our society. The discussion should be that the tourism product is hanging on a limb and until the major hotels are restored this unfairness doesn't help. Shouldn't fairness of the economic pie be displayed with tour operators and taxi drivers? Stop talking down about men and woman you know nothing of because you were never fed by one. All taxi drivers are not rude, uneducated and have hot taxis. Wake up and see the real light.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 8 months ago
Which politicians own the tor bus companies ..... that have put the taxi drivers out of work again?????? ......... 1957/8 all over again ..... Sir Cliff is dead
The_Oracle 6 years, 8 months ago
The real question is who owns all the taxi plates? Most are (I believe) driving under someone else. Been that way for decades.
TalRussell 6 years, 8 months ago
Comrades! Get serious. If both the Red Shirts three previous Papa Hubert regimes attempts at governing - haven't been capable enough to fix the Horses and Buggies business - why would you trust the Minnis administration of red shirts to fix our broken, out dated - much too damn political Taxi Plates Licensing System? The Taxis are a lot more complicated a fix than what for years has turned into a can't fix of but a dozen old horses and falling apart carriages -and doubtful the horses are represented by an entrenched Union?
Economist 6 years, 8 months ago
The old model of taxis being the dominant form of transportation is a part of the mid twentieth century.
Buses, trains, courtesy vans dominate transportation at most airports and harbours today.
The day of the taxi as Mr. Rolle describes it is a way of the past. It died over forty years ago in most major areas and twenty years ago every where else.
If we want tourists in Grand Bahama we must open the system to more bus and shuttle services.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID