BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – RESPONDING to reports that some taxi operators were disgruntled over being debarred from operating at Port Zante and the Sea Port yesterday (Jan. 11) the St. Kitts Tourism Authority has offered an explanation which suggests that the operators failed to renew their operating licenses in a timely manner.
The complaint which reached SKNVibes was that when the taxi operators arrived for work on that day, they were not permitted to ply their trade.
It was suggested that their license – having been expired on December 31, 2016 – was to have been renewed and a grace period given within the New Year. Information reaching this publication suggests that these taxi operators were of the view that the “grace period” expired on January 31. Thus, they claim to have been taken aback when they arrived for work and were banned from functioning in those areas.
Public Relations Officer at the Tourism Authority Saju N’Galla, explained however that portions of that information are inaccurate.
According to him, each year a decal is issued to each taxi driver – for display on their vehicle – after the requisite checks of the vehicle and their operating license has been renewed. That license however, expires at the end of every December. But because of the hectic nature of the December period the taxi operators were given until the January 10 to get their business in order.
N’Galla further explained that most of the taxi operators had gotten their vehicles checked, their licensed renewed and the decal prominently displayed on their vehicle, and that only a select few had not by the cut-off point
He added that all of the taxi operators were aware of the procedure because it happens every year and also because meetings were held with all the heads of the taxi associations, written correspondence was also used and radio announcements.
“We notified all the taxi operators that they had the whole entire of December right down the January 10. So they were informed as to how long…they had. Everybody knew, even those who…are disgruntled, knew that they had the entire month of December to do it. And again, this is done not…to hamper anyone. This is to make sure that they meet the requirement of operating in a world-class sector, the tourism industry, which is now our number one earner when it comes to driving the economy.”
The Tourism Authority’s PRO informed that taxi operators are fee to renew their operating licenses without penalty but noted that until that is done, they would not be permitted to ply their trade.
