Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@cnc3.co.tt
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says Cabinet is considering measures aimed at improving public transportation services and reducing reliance on unregulated PH taxi operators following growing public concern in the wake of the murder of 12-year-old Mercedez Layne.
Responding to questions from Guardian Media yesterday, the Prime Minister revealed that a Cabinet note is currently under consideration as part of efforts to strengthen traffic management and improve the public transport system.
According to Persad-Bissessar, the proposal seeks to reduce reliance on PH vehicles operating within cities and encourage greater use of legitimate, regulated public transportation providers.
“The proposal was intended to reduce reliance on PH vehicles operating within the city and encourage the use of legitimate, regulated public transport operators,” she said.
She explained that the initiative would also address longstanding concerns that taxis and maxi taxis are often required to drop passengers outside city limits, forcing commuters to either walk considerable distances or seek alternative transportation, including PH vehicles, to complete their journeys.
The Prime Minister said the proposed changes would promote fairness for licensed operators who have complied with all legal and regulatory requirements while improving convenience, accessibility and safety for commuters.
“One of the main matters under consideration was the removal of restrictions placed on maxis and taxis entering specified streets within cities and towns,” she noted.
Persad-Bissessar also dismissed suggestions that a new transportation system is needed to address the issue, arguing that the existing framework already provides a pathway for operators to become licensed.
“There is no need for a new system because it is very simple to get a taxi badge. There is no limit on the number of taxis that may operate within the regulated transportation system,” she said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged the challenges faced by law enforcement in tackling illegal PH taxi operations, noting that police often struggle to secure evidence against offenders.
“The police have tried to crack down on illegal PH drivers, but the passengers never admit that they are paying the driver. They say they are getting a free ride or the driver is a friend or family member, so the police have difficulty laying charges,” she explained.
The issue has come under renewed scrutiny following the killing of 12-year-old Mercedez Layne, a tragedy that has sparked debate over the safety of unregulated passenger transport services.
Former Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the incident had “understandably heightened public concern regarding unregulated passenger transport services.”
While noting that criminal acts can occur in any sector, Sinanan argued that the absence of a formal regulatory framework makes it significantly more difficult to verify operators, monitor activity, enforce standards and investigate incidents when they occur.
He revealed that during his tenure, extensive consultations were held with PH taxi operators, licensed taxi associations, maxi taxi groups, insurance providers, regulatory agencies and private-sector stakeholders to determine whether PH operators could be integrated into the country’s public transportation framework.
According to Sinanan, those consultations highlighted the State’s responsibility to ensure that all passenger transport services meet established standards of safety, accountability and regulatory oversight.
“For a transport service to be legitimately recognised and supported by the State, there must be appropriate vehicle inspections, adequate insurance coverage, proper driver vetting, licensing requirements, record keeping and enforcement mechanisms,” he said.
Sinanan added that significant challenges were identified in bringing the existing PH taxi model into compliance with those standards.
