OBA seeks amendments to the Motor Car Act
Dwayne Robinson: “There seems to be no real movement to assist the [taxi] industry.”
Statement by Shadow Transport Minister Dwayne Robinson:
When is the Transport Minister going to address the concerns of the transportation stakeholders and the public who use their services?
It is clear the industry needs updated legislation and Ministerial collaboration to help navigate the challenges they face. Our transport services remain fractured, and it is the customers who are paying the price.
I have received numerous complaints from transport stakeholders regarding alleged instances of dispatching of taxis from unlicensed entities.
This leads to multiple taxis going to one job and arriving to find the customer already picked up.
The demand is outstripping the supply. Instances like these are costly when people are already competing for taxis.
Many hotels have had to invest in their own transport to attempt to supplement the lack of availability. Tourists and locals being left for hours with no taxis.
The Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association (BTOA) has recommended issuing more temporary and full taxi permits. It’s clear that more taxis are needed to meet the demand. Why hasn’t the Minister taken this on or provided an alternative solution?
There seems to be a lack of enforcement from traffic officers on transport policy and regulation, with many in the industry citing lack of enforcement and responsiveness from TCD on reported breaches of the Motor Car Act 1951. The industry seems to have been left to cannibalize itself with mini-buses and limos fitting in where they can get in.
During the recent Budget debate, The Minister of Tourism Transport Culture and Sport stated the Motor Car Act is being looked at. When will we see any meaningful amendments?
With no movement on the suggested ways to improve the taxi industry put forward by the BTOA or any concrete updates on Ride Sharing there seems to be no real movement to assist the industry.
The Minister needs to investigate where the potential breakdown in enforcement is with TCD and where he can provide the support if necessary. It’s also his responsibility to examine any breaches of the law, and if is this indeed true, rectify them.
I urge Minister Darrell to meet with stakeholders to bring forward amendments to the Motor Car Act will properly address their concerns. I implore the Minister to engage TCD to work with current dispatchers to forge a way forward that benefits all stakeholders in the industry.
