Maxi Taxi Association Calls For Greater Safety Measures At City Gate
President of the Route 2 Maxi Taxi Association, Brenton Knights, says that while the possibility of a fare increase remains a major concern among the wider public, no decision has been made.
In an interview with TTT News, Mr. Knights mentioned several items discussed at Tuesday’s meeting with the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Eli Zakour.
He said it was revealed that there are plans to amend the current policy governing bus route operation for maxi taxi drivers across the country, and that discussions will continue with the Permanent Secretary on January 9th.
« The substance that we saw coming out of the meeting at the end of the day is the question put to us: if we are going to raise the fare and categorically, we said from the outset that based on what was presented to us, we are a very responsible organisation, and at the end of the day, we look at our operational cost, and because we are in an economical climate that is still unravelling with a lot of other things before us, we are in observation mood. »
In light of concern among commuters and drivers alike for their safety, Mr. Knights issued a call for authorities to do more to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
« Come out on board on the bus route and assist. Do some stop and searches. We have no issue with law enforcement and the laws and them you know because at the end of the day, it is best for the commuters and it’s best for a safe environment for each and everyone that operates on the bus route. »
Mr. Knights noted that the association has been calling on authorities for years to mitigate the number of robberies and other offences occurring at City Gate, Port of Spain. He said these occurrences have since created an atmosphere of fear, particularly during the early morning and late evening hours.
« Our purpose here is to provide a travelling ambiance that is very comfortable and palatable for the commuters. We want our commuters to be safe. We know we have female commuters travelling all 2’o clock in the morning from various different entities in Trinidad and Tobago, you know, and using the bus route, so we want them to be safe. That is our daughters, that is our mothers, that is our sisters, we want them to be safe. »
According to Mr. Knights, these conditions not only place passengers at great risk but drivers as well, who are left vulnerable while trying to earn a living.
« A lot of our drivers had incurred that cost of putting cameras in the vehicle, but we also asked the relevant authorities to have more stop and searches round the clock. »
Mr. Knights said that while he noticed a slight uptick in stop-searches conducted under the current Superintendent of the Port of Spain Division, he urged that this routine be implemented on a consistent basis to ensure the safety of both passengers and drivers.
The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation recently launched a new enforcement unit dedicated to improving regulation and traffic management along the Priority Bus Route. The initiative aims to strengthen oversight and support smoother public transportation along the East West Corridor.
