Remaining 16% taxifare increase takes effect in two phase started yesterday

In an Our Today news follow-up…. Transport Minister, Daryl Vaz has just announced that the remaining 16% taxifare increase is being implemented immediately in two phases.

Phase one, which is for an eight percent increase took effect yesterday June one with the remaining eight percent taking effect July 1, 2026. The announcement was made at a news conference called for this morning by Minister Vaz. 

This announcement is good news for taxi operators across the island, who have been edge for weeks, threatening a islandwide strike last month over the non-implementation of the balancing 16% fare increase. This balance represents the second phase of the 35% fare increase approved by the Government in 2023 but only 19% was implemented that year and the remaining 16% was due in 2024. 

However, the implementation of the remaining 16% increase was deferred by the Government due to varying economic shocks. Today’s announcement comes after a Cabinet submission by Minister Vaz and Finance Minister, Fayval Williams to the political executive arm of government, which  discussed the matter at its weekly meeting yesterday. 

The Cabinet submission was sparked after Ministers Vaz and Williams met with public transport operators two weeks ago, after they had called for a nationwide strike over the delayed implementation of the balance of the fare increase.

The meeting averted the nationwide strike but both ministers have hinted that the government might not be able to afford to implement the 16% in one go but might do it in two tranches.