May 31, 2011Dear Sir,Have you ever looked for your glasses only to have someone tell you they are on your head, or have you ever walked around looking for your cellphone only to feel something in your hand? Well, the solutions to the taxi industry are in our head and in the palm of our hand. Why is it that we do not therefore see the solution or the problem? It’s because for the most part, all those in the industry are all living the problem because they are too close, i.e. involved in the problem, so they live every day in denial that the industry is in very serious trouble. Thus, the need for, outside professional help:-Our Transport Minister Terry Lister, in recognising this, is conducting an independent inquiry into the taxi industry. Because even now that we have the technology we are still hearing the ‘same old, same old’ I can’t get a taxi in a timely fashion, they simply just don’t stop! Or they are not acknowledging the fares shown on their computer screens mounted in their car and there are still rumours of favouritism within the company and yet Government finds it necessary to go back to the source of the problem to try and rectify it where simply isn’t going to happen!Dr Brown, our former Premier, had to deal with the same problem and issues. He too went after the taxi driver for answers. Why? Because over 50% of them are owner-driven.Back in the 1970s computers started to make a big impact upon the global scene and it was during that time Computer Taxi Dispatch was first introduced to the taxi industry here in Bermuda and because of a bad management decision based upon a basic lack of business and marketing skills; this basic marketing and sales device did not make its debut until some years later only to fall into the hands of those that share the common complaint of all businesses that failed to prepare and subsequently prepared to fail. Those companies have wound up because they failed to use a tool specifically designed for the revolutionaries of the workforce. I predict another one of those remaining is going to bite the dust.LLOYD SMITHSt David’s