Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
MINISTER OF Transport Robert Pickersgill will by Friday, announce his decision on taxi operators' call for a 75 per cent rise in fares.
The minister was speaking with The Gleaner following yesterday's meeting with the National Association of Taxi Operators (NATO) and other taxi
representatives.
NATO consultant Egerton Newman said the increase "would be in the best interest of taxi drivers and commuters."
"We are hoping people understand we must make the increase because of the current climate as with the (pending) increase in bus fares," said Mr. Newman.
The state-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Corporation (JUTC) has asked for an increase of up to 100 per cent and this is also under consideration by the minister.
However, the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday demanded a forensic audit of the JUTC before any fare increase is granted. It claimed to have "knowledge of widespread corruption and cronyism at the JUTC" which was causing losses.
ROBBERY OF THE PUBLIC PURSE
" ...We are now being called upon to pay more while agents of the State continue to preside over the robbery of the public purse," read a statement from the JLP. "The travelling public is already overburdened by a high and increasing cost of living," it added.
In response Mr. Pickersgill insisted that the JUTC was well audited with an internal audit by the Auditor General and an external one by KPMG. A general audit by United States transport company First Transit was currently in draft form and should soon be published he added.
The minister denied the JLP's charge that the fare increase was "arbitrary" and added that he would soon make public, the decision of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), as to the level of increase that should be granted.
He said the JLP was being "sensational" in its claims adding that "they have a duty if that kind of information is available to turn it over to the appropriate authority."
The Transport Minister said he would be holding a press conference shortly to discuss the JUTC increase, which he said, "would be far from oppressive".
It was price increases particularly of essential items such as fuel costs and insurance that justified the taxi operators call for a fare increase Mr. Newman had reasoned.
Mr. Pickersgill confirmed NATO's account of their meeting but when asked as to his likely decision he replied simply: "I am not going to speculate." He said he was due to meet with other taxi associations today.
He acknowledged that any rise would be coming at a time of growing inflationary pressure. "Before we arrive at any figure it will have to be checked off with Cabinet as to its implications for Government."
Price rises, the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) had explained, contributed to its announcement last Wednesday, that inflation could exceed its earlier prediction of 13 to 15 per cent for the financial year this against the Government's prediction of just nine per cent.
