August 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

Please allow me space in your daily to make my frustrations known. As the talk of an upcoming election grows, I am at the point where I no longer know where to put my "X". I have been a long time supporter of the Progressive Labor Party and I was right there on Court Street in the middle of the celebrations when the the PLP won on the last two occasions. It was a joyous occasion.

I have now reached the point where I can no longer put my X in the PLP box, and have decided just not to vote. I almost persuaded myself to go the other way (UBP) but, at this point I just don't know! I would like talk about the transportation industry, which has been turned upside down. A government should not be allowed to go into an industry, make changes within that industry and not get consultation from others running and maintaining that industry. As a young man, I just recently made a huge in investment in a taxicab. Looking around now, I am wondering if this investment was worth my while! The PLP government, under the leadership of DPEB, has now allowed minibuses, hotel buses and soon to come limousines to enter and supply the same service. The Government has also allow the PTB pink and blue public buses to conduct tours for cruise ship visitors, while taxi drivers look around at each other. I already have seen my income revenue stream decrease because of this now wide open industry. I have recently been told that there are plans to prevent taxi's from arranging pre-arranged bookings and that there is consideration in putting 100 new permits on the road.

Very soon, to ride a PTB public bus will be free. Talk about ruining an industry by design! This, I believe is a designed plan to ruin taxi drivers who have been the ambassadors for Bermuda for many years, without any gratitude. Is this some sort of payback?

In an age when we are fighting traffic on our roads, how can consideration be given for all of the above. These new objectives certainly will bring down the taxi industry, which we all as owners and operators talk about on the street, but don't come together and do something about it. My fellow drivers... look what is happening on September 5 in New York.. All the cabbies there are standing up and fighting back because GPS is being forced on them. Please guys its time for us to have some guts! What is the leader of the BTA doing to put all drivers in a better position going forward?

The only thing I hear is silence! When will we take a stand?

I know this is the age of competition, and I agree during the months of May and September there is a need for added means of transportation. What Government should have done was to allow the above new services to run between the above two mentioned months, but after September those services should cease, so we're not all sitting around wondering where our next fare will come from. My suggestion would have been to have the mini buses assist only with transporting all the kids of the expatriate workers, and Bermudians that take their kids to and from school on a daily basis. The minibuses can make scheduled pickups at different points in different parishes, which would cut back on their parents causing such an increase in traffic, just to take their kids to school. This should be made mandatory that parents abide by this system. Transportation by taxi can easily be provided to our customers during the off season.

My fellow drivers, who will be our leader?

We need someone to step up for the good of our industry and give us guidance that we all will abide by. It's time to come together and stand up for our rights instead of just talking in the streets. We are letting only ourselves down! We are also being laughed at because we cannot get ourselves together. That is why this Government is doing whatever it wants. Its time to STEP UP and let this Government know we have a voice. There are 600 of us! We can be strong! I ask again... Who will be our leader?

DPEB talked about taking Bermuda to the Next Level – Who will take us to the Next Level?

It appears it wont be DPEB, therefore I can't put my X back there!

BY DESIGN

Warwick