The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Bahamas Taxicab Union’s (BTU) president says he remains resolute on rebranding the industry and shedding the negative reputation of cab drivers as a group of “scavengers”.

Following what he described as a “cordial” and “very productive” meeting with Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis on Friday, Wesley Ferguson argued: “We have to be seen as business operators instead of scavengers”.

He added that himself and his executive team were now drafting a proposal to solve their concerns, and said: “We had a very powerful meeting with the prime minister. It basically was a unilateral meeting with the minister of transport, the minister of tourism, his permanent secretary, the port director along with myself and two members of my executive team.

“It was a 45-minute meeting where I articulated the concerns of the taxi cab drivers, from the airport to Baha Mar, to the dock to Paradise Island. I’m supposed to be contacted on Tuesday. We are now in the process of suggesting solutions to the issues.

“We are in the process of now getting together with our executive team. A soon as we hear from the prime minister on Tuesday we will move in that direction with the executive team and start the solution process.”

Taxi drivers staged a demonstration in Rawson Square last Wednesday to highlight their concerns. The move was triggered by the the Ministry of Tourism’s decision to take disciplinary action against taxi drivers at Prince George Wharf, a move he slammed as “unlawful”. Dionisio D’Aguilar, minister of tourism, said ministry personnel were simply trying to protect The Bahamas’ brand and improve the overall visitor experience.

“We are going to start the rebranding of the taxi industry because that is one of the things that I went into my campaign with. As taxi drivers we have to change the way we do business. We have to be seen as business operators instead of scavengers,” said Mr Ferguson.

“People get a perception of who you are by your action. Taxi drivers have a bad reputation out there. I’m not oblivious to that fact. We have to take the bull by the horns. You can’t just give a guy a fish; you have to teach him how to fish.”