The island’s third political party says drivers deserve a seat at the table
The Free Democratic Movement would give autonomy to the taxi industry to regulate itself, if it became part of a coalition government.
At a press conference held this morning at King’s Wharf in Dockyard, the FDM stood in support of the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association (BTOA), echoing arguments that they have not had a seat at the decision-making table under the incumbent government.
FDM chairman Omar Dill said: “One of the concerns specifically of the BTOA is that they have no members of their executive on some of these boards that are making decisions. Some of such decisions are being made by just the Minister without any questions asked.”
Shalleya Codrington, FDM candidate for Constituency 36, Sandys North, added: “It is within the best interests of Bermuda to give them full control over this industry.”
She continued: “From a government standpoint, if we’re ignoring people that work in these industries who know what’s best for the industry, we’re never going to see progress. It’s going to continue on a declining rate.”
The party said it recognises that the industry has been undervalued and overlooked, even after making their concerns known to the government.
One problem that taxi drivers have brought to the attention of the FDM, according to Marc Bean, candidate for Constituency 32, Southampton West, is “the fact that there is too much government interference and intervention, whether it’s through overly burdensome rules and regulations, or, even allowing for the intervention in the industry by government or politician owned entities such as Hitch, which as a result hampers the market, or the free flowing function of the market to the detriment of taxi drivers.”
He added: “There’s no reason why a politician should be involved in manipulating the industry for their own benefit. Taxi drivers have had enough.”
Ms Codrington said she recently engaged in talks with a taxi driver who voiced his concerns to her about the state of his industry and the lack of benefits he is receiving, including health insurance and a government pension.
She added: “He’s over the age of retirement right now and he’s in a position of surviving, he’s not living. He doesn’t feel as if he’s being supported by government, or as if he’s ever been supported by government.”
The party said it would seek to allow the taxi industry to regulate itself.
Mr Dill explained: “As an FDM government, we would seek to allow them to make their own decisions with the government stepping in with safety concerns and things like that.”
The FDM nominated only ten candidates, therefore they cannot win a majority in the House of Assembly. Pressed on how they would push for legislative change in this area, Mr Bean said from collaboration.
He stated: “There’s a good opportunity and chance this time around where we will have a coalition government and with the coalition government, it’s going to require reasoning and consensus and so we’ll be willing to provide what we can to bring it to the table. And again, if our policies make the most sense, if they’re the most effective, then we’re sure that we’ll be able to encourage others at the table to be able to sign on and support what we’re doing.”
On the other hand, Mr Bean noted that if good policies emerge from the Progressive Labour Party, One Bermuda Alliance or independents, then they would also be willing to participate and endorse those initiatives.
The BTOA confirmed to Bermuda Broadcasting that it supports the comments made by the FDM during today’s press conference.
However, Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, pushed back, stating that the government has been actively engaging with the BTOA and has already implemented measures to support taxi drivers.
“Let me just make it very clear that since I’ve been Minister of Transport for the last two and a half years, we have met with the BTOA many, many times, and we have consulted with them,” said Minister Furbert. “As a matter of fact, when I became Minister, they were the first group I consulted with to understand where we should be heading in terms of the taxi industry.”
“Since that time, we have increased taxi rates by approximately 15%, and we have also increased tour rates for taxi drivers. Let me make it very clear that we have reduced payroll tax for taxi drivers from $1,000 to $600 per year. If you recall, about two years ago, the rates were around $3,000.”
