Dear Editor,
Several years ago I wrote letters to the press maintaining that the Ministry of Home Affairs, in conjunction with the police should establish greater control over hire cars/taxis. I saw that taxi services could be established by criminal-minded people, and the cars could be used to transport drugs and smuggled items, and even be utilized in the commission of more nefarious crimes.
I suggested then that anyone applying for a hire-car licence or setting up a taxi service should have a background check to ensure he had the ability to render the service. He should also undergo a training programme in relation to ethical behaviour, responsibility, laws, courtesy, etc.
Today, taxis operate as a necessary service, however, certain regulations need to be put in place to ensure that Guyanese and our tourists are not manipulated, robbed, injured or killed.
I again suggest, as I did before, that the approved airport taxi service be a pre-paid one. While rates are published on the wall, sometimes they are not seen and there are occasions when passengers claim they had to pay more, and if they extend the trip, they are taken advantage of. With a pre-paid system, all are protected, especially the tourist/passenger, and the money for the taxi is guaranteed. During the Cricket World Cup season, the taxi drivers disagreed, and management went along with them. Management has to be dynamic and prepared to create new systems. Once systems are changed, all those who disagree will have to accept or move on; mostly they will accept, if not new drivers will take their place. Some do not wish for control, and for management to know how much they are making. These drivers in fairness are well uniformed, courteous and at times very helpful. They definitely provide security for the tourist/passenger.
I wish to recommend some radical changes in the taxi and hire car services:
1. All taxis/hire cars should carry a particular colour, with no exception; I saw it in India and Japan, and realized how useful it is, although sweet-boy drivers would not like it.
2. All taxi/hire car drivers must wear a uniform, which creates respect and order. Again the sweet boy drivers would be annoyed.
3. All taxis/hire cars must have a zone number (in addition to a regular licence plate), and only certain taxis/hire cars with a national permit should be permitted to take passengers in any part of the country. The zone control number should be short and marked on the vehicle front, rear and sides for easy viewing. (These people also need specialized training in dealing with tourists, which can be done through recognized schools according to a syllabus prepared by the Tourism Authority).
4. Taxi and hire car drivers must be issued with a large photo identification which must be displayed in the vehicle for the easy viewing of the passenger.
Whenever taking a taxi from a mall, store or street, which has not been called for from a known responsible taxi service, the passenger should note the number of the vehicle, its colour and kind, and call a close relative, as most people have cell phones now. Let them know you are taking a taxi from the street, and ask them to note the details. Let the taxi driver see you doing this, and most likely, I believe, if he is bent on criminality, he will refrain.
Yours faithfully,
Roshan Khan
