Taxi operators accept phased 16% fare rise but plan fresh claim

Taxi operators have accepted the Government's newly announced fare adjustment, but industry representative Egerton Newman says members remain dissatisfied because the 16 per cent increase will be paid in two stages rather than all at once.

Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services, said the sector expected the full adjustment immediately after waiting nearly three years. Instead, the Ministry of Transport approved 8 per cent now, with the remaining 8 per cent to take effect on July 1. He said operators chose to accept the arrangement because the second portion is already scheduled and should not require another dispute.

According to Newman, the increase should not be described as a new fare rise. He argued that operators were owed 35 per cent three years ago but received only 19 per cent, leaving the 16 per cent now being addressed. He said the sector will begin preparing a separate application for what he called a proper fare increase, adding that such a claim could not be below 40 per cent.

Newman said higher fuel prices, hurricane-related disruptions, poor road conditions and other operating expenses have pushed some drivers to raise fares informally in some areas. He said the first 8 per cent increase works out to about $12 on many routes in the Kingston Metropolitan Region, while longer routes in places such as St. Mary may see increases closer to $25 or $30. A further increase of about $12 is expected on July 1 in many KMR areas.

He acknowledged that even small increases can affect passengers on tight budgets, but said transport operators are also trying to keep their businesses running. Newman added that some passengers who cannot immediately pay the extra amount may receive consideration from individual drivers, though that will depend on the operator and the passenger. He said one such issue arose after the announcement when a student travelling to Papine did not have additional fare money.