By John Myers Jr., Staff ReporterROBERT PICKERSGILL, Minister of Transport and Works, on Tuesday requested more evidence from representatives of taxi associations who are lobbying for another hike in taxi fares in light of spiralling fuel prices.
The request was made after a meeting between representatives of the National Association of Taxi Operators (NATO) and the Transport Minister to discuss the negative repercussions of high fuel prices on the taxi trade.
DOCUMENT EXAMINED
Keith Goodison, executive assistant to the Transport Minister said "The Minister examined the document (presented by NATO) but it needs additional information which they have agreed to provide to us to examine and review." The Minister was reportedly unconvinced by the evidence presented by NATO to support the level of increase being requested.
The taxi association, which represents over 8,000 taxi operators across the island, is lobbying for an additional $10 to be added to the first stage of the existing fare structure.
Egerton Newman, general secretary of NATO, speaking with The Gleaner after the meeting, expressed confidence that the taxi operators would get the increase. He described the meeting as fruitful. "I am confident. As a matter of fact, we went close to that today (Tuesday) but the percentage was not what we were looking for...," Newman said. He reported that the Ministry was proposing an approximate 12 per cent increase. As a result, he said the Minister requested additional information that would warrant a greater increase. No date has been set for the next meeting, but Goodison said by Thursday both parties should sign off on a suitable date.
LAST INCREASE
Taxi operators were last granted a 33 to 35 per cent fare hike in September, 2002 after citing hardships as a result of high operating costs. The decision to grant the fare hike was made following extensive consultations between representatives of the Transport Ministry, the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) and the Transport Authority. At the time of the announcement, Minister Pickersgill said the level of increase should have improved their economic viability.
In the meantime, Newman is warning taxi operators against increasing fares before getting the approval of the Transport Ministry. He said there were reports of some taxi men planning to unilaterally hike fares.
