Badaloo

Concerns have been expressed at the recently implemented taxi service policy instituted by the administration at the University of the West Indies (UWI).

According to Andrew Badaloo, president of the UWI Guild of Students, the new policy will greatly inconvenience commuting students.

The new taxi policy, which became effective Monday, will only allow the Corporate Area Taxi Association and Jamaica Urban Transit Authority taxis on the campus.

Before the change, legal and illegal route taxis were allowed to come on to the campus. However, due to what it cites as the lack of discipline from taxi drivers, the university has implemented these and other measures.

Timeline concern

Mr. Badaloo, while acknowledging the new initiative is aimed at enhancing security, said he believed the timeline of the implementation and the inconvenience it will cause are areas for concern.

"The idea is good, however, it needs to be thought through, as it is not convenient to students," he said. "Students will be now walking from the periphery of the campus, that is the gate (Irvine Hall entrance), with their goods in their hands."

Mr. Badaloo has also said that the time period of the implementation is too short for students who are now on holiday.

"The awareness period is too short; I believe it should be implemented at the end of September. Right now students outside of the Corporate Area who are coming to school would not know, therefore, they would be travelling with their suitcases and luggage. When they arrive at the gate, and their taxis are not allowed, where are they to go?"

Increase security

Kameisha Aikens, a third-year student, however, supports the move of the university, saying that it will increase the security of the students. "I support it because when the route taxis come on the campus they behave in a most unseemly manner and, if there is an accident, students have nothing to claim for."

However, Christopher Campbell, a second-year commuting student, said he believed the move was not in the best interest of the student body.

"It is very inconvenient because the expense to call a taxi on campus will be increased. Sometimes classes go up until 8 and 9' o clock and to go on the road can be very dangerous."

When contacted, the administration of the UWI was unwilling to immediately comment on the new policy.