Senior Reporter
Route Two Maxi Taxi Association president Brenton Knights believes that their two days of “rest and relaxation” sent the message to the relevant authorities.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, Knights said the strike was cut one day short to cater for the children currently writing exams.
He said there was a daily assessment of the effect of the protest, which called on maxi taxi operators across the country to withhold their services for three days.
“The assessment that was done on Monday, we know that our message went across, and the amount of PR that we did, we know definitely it was reaching where it was supposed to reach, especially sensitising the public with our plight.”
Maxi taxi operators had initially called the three-day protest, as they called on Government to address several issues, including allowing the transfer of Priority Bus Route (PBR) and intercity passes to designated persons, an increase in the highway speed limit from 65 km/h to 80 km/h, a crackdown on illegal PH drivers and to be allowed to make NIS contributions.
Knights added that while Monday’s assessment showed the target was met, it continued on Tuesday to further send home the point but they felt the pain of the public.
He said yesterday, being the eve of the today’s public holiday, it was prudent that maxi taxi operators not continue with the protest.
Asked if it was called off after the State responded with additional transport to those living along the East/West corridor, Knights said no.
“I don’t want to get into the semantics with the State, but what I would say is that their concentration was mostly on the Priority Bus Route. This was an islandwide thing. This was all the routes involved. Does the State have the resources to tote the capacity that maxi taxis do islandwide?”
He added that the strike was also not used too soon, adding, “Those in the fire does feel the heat.”
While not wanting to say what the next step is, Knights said it could come like a “thief in the night,” unlike this week’s action that took place after advanced notice.
One commuter, identified only as Niesha, said coming from Manzanilla to Port-of-Spain, she was late for work, as it was difficult trying to get transport in Arima.
She said while she understood the plight, it affected the public tremendously.
“I don’t know if their message was received in a good way, but I understand with them,” she said, adding that she did not fully support their method of bringing their plight to the forefront.
Another passenger, who only wanted to be identified as “Knox,” said he only became aware of the concerns of the maxi taxi operators when he tried getting transport on Monday.
