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Commuters Urged To Help Get Rid Of Illegal Taxi Operators

By: , December 10, 2015

The Key Point:

The Transport Authoriy (TA) is urging commuters to assist in the fight against illegal taxi operation in Jamaica.

The Facts

  • Persons are encouraged to send the images via email to customercare@ta.org.jm or call 1-888-991-5687 to make reports.
  • Mr. Foster was speaking, on Wednesday, December 9, at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, at the agency’s head office, in Kingston.

The Full Story

The Transport Authoriy (TA) is urging commuters to assist in the fight against illegal taxi operation in Jamaica.

“I am soliciting the assistance of Jamaicans to use the technologies and send the Authority photographs and videos of illegal activities in the transportation system anywhere they occur in Jamaica,” Managing Director of TA, Donald Foster, said.

Persons are encouraged to send the images via email to customercare@ta.org.jm or call 1-888-991-5687 to make reports.

“Join the fight against illegality in the public transportation sector in our country. No country has achieved substantial economic development without persons obeying the rule of law, so join us in cleaning up the illegality in the system,” he pleaded.

Mr. Foster was speaking, on Wednesday, December 9, at a JIS ‘Think Tank’, at the agency’s head office, in Kingston.

The Managing Director also highlighted that there is a relationship between criminal activities and illegal operators in the sector.

“When you take a robot taxi, you are contributing to illegality, indiscipline and to the breakdown of law and order in the country,” Mr. Foster said.

He said the Authority is doing everything to ensure there is an adequate supply of licensed operators in the country to reduce the likelihood of persons travelling on illegal taxis. “We are constantly conducting surveys to inform this process,” he added.

“If you are living in a community where you believe there is an inadequate supply of legally operated public transportation vehicles, let us know, we will respond,” Mr. Foster assured.

The Managing Director said in light of a recent survey conducted by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), where some 75 per cent of Jamaican households rely on the public transportation system, “it is therefore a critical sector that has to be kept safe, secure and orderly.”

In this regard, Mr. Foster is encouraging members of the public to inform the Authority of all the underserved areas in their community or parish.

Meanwhile, Communications Manager at the Authority, Petra-Kene Williams, noted that in November, the agency reopened some 438 routes, and of that number 374 are related to route taxis and another 64 to State carriages or bus services across the country.

“As a result, an opportunity exists for persons who wish to operate public transportation to do so legally,” Ms. Williams explained.

Last Updated: December 10, 2015

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