In a radical move aimed at assisting the travelling public, the Government is set to legalise the operations of PH taxi drivers. Acting Prime Minister Jack Warner confirmed this yesterday in an interview with the T&T Guardian. Warner, who is also Works and Transport Minister, said the measure would be implemented with the aim of assisting commuters in several remote districts across the country. Warner said the proposal had already been "discussed internally" and a note is to be taken by him to Cabinet shortly for consideration and approval.
He said several PH taxi drivers are to be regularised as a result of the proposed step. Under existing legislation, the operations of PH taxis are illegal. Asked to explain how the measure will work, Warner said: "Special licences are to be issued to the PH drivers to allow them to operate legally in remote areas of the country. "The special licence will authorise the PH drivers to ply their trade legally... commuters will benefit from insurance coverage, which will now be provided," he added.
Warner said the PH cars will retain their number plates, which will not be altered to "H." He added that the details of the initiative were still to be worked out. President of the Alternative Transport Association Gerard Whyms yesterday welcomed Warner's announcement. Whyms said PH taxis must be "regularised and brought under the transportion structure in T&T." The previous PNM administration had contemplated a crackdown on PH drivers, following the deaths of passengers sometime ago. That proposed action sparked a national debate on whether the operations should be regulated or closed down.