By Clinton McGregor/Kimone Witter
The National Council of Taxi Associations (NCOTA) has written to Prime Minister Andrew Holness seeking a meeting to discuss some of the burning issues affecting transport operators in relation to the new Road Traffic Act.
NCOTA President Allan Blair told Radio Jamaica News that the letter was delivered to Jamaica House on Monday.
Speaking with Radio Jamaica News on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Blair welcomed the reversal of the child seatbelt restrictions, but added that there are a number of outstanding issues which are of major concern to the transport operators.
Among the concerns is the lack of designated pick up and drop off spots, especially in rural areas.
Mr. Blair said although the law allows public passenger vehicles to "pull off at a convenient place where they will not be obstructing traffic" in the event there is no designated drop off area, operators still complain that they are receiving tickets when they do so.
He said calls for the municipal corporation to put in markings for designated stop areas have been unanswered.
Mr. Blair, who is also President of the May Pen Taxi Association in Clarendon, said he understands the frustration of some transport operators who have withdrawn their service. However, he maintained that NCOTA believes in dialogue and that "demonstration should be a last resort".
He cited the amendment to the child seat issue as an indication that the operators' voices are being heard without the need for further protests.
Not letting up
Despite NCOTA's position, the One Voice taxi group appears to have a different opinion.
Since Monday, it has been spearheading the protest by some transport operators, which it said would last three days.
Taxi operators in Mandeville, Manchester stopped working again on Wednesday after they were addressed Tuesday night by Lorraine Finnikin, Director of Communication for One Voice.
Radio Jamaica News spoke with a taxi operator who said he was expecting Transport Minister Audley Shaw to announce lower traffic fines during his presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
"The prices are to high and we're asking the government to roll back the fees. So until these demands are met, we are willing to do this all week to ensure that we get a positive result," the operator warned.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is scheduled to chair a meeting of the National Road Safety Council on Thursday to review the provisions of the new Road Traffic Act.
