THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE GOVERNMENT needs to simplify the process to obtain a taxi licence (red plate). Taxi drivers say it is extremely difficult, time-consuming and frustrating to obtain red plates. Why regulate the issuance of plates in such a ridiculous manner? The Attorney-General claims that we have about 20,000 robot taxis on the roads of Jamaica.
Now the Government has passed a law to severely punish the robot taxi operators, instead of opening up the system to let them have the legal taxi plates. Mr. AG, you are to say to the robot operators, get your red plates or else! Instead you are denying them the option and then persecuting them on top of that. It should not take more than a few hours to get the taxi plates once the requirements are met by the applicant.
Passengers die in all types of automobiles, not just in robot taxis. I know of a case where a robot taxi was used to rushed a woman to the hospital. The doctor said if she had got there any later she would have died.
It is only a fraction of the automobiles on the road that get a proper inspection at the Inspection Depot. The Certificates of Fitness are easily bought at the depot, which ought to be run without so much corruption.
All taxis should be identified by colour. Kingston taxis can be blue, Portmore taxis can be yellow, or all taxis islandwide should be one colour. This is the most sensible approach, as a taxi will be easily identifiable from a distance.
School children, especially the girls, deliberately choose taxis, buses, robot taxis with music blasting. Vulgar lyrics enhance business. This matter needs attention!
I am, etc.,
DANNY PERSAUD
dannygpersaud@hotmail.com
Kingston 8
