Taxi groups reject staged payout of remaining 16% fare rise

Two leading taxi associations are pressing the Government to rule out breaking up the remaining 16% fare increase into instalments.

At a meeting yesterday with public passenger vehicle operators, Finance Minister Fayval Williams said it may still be some time before operators know whether the outstanding rise will be paid in a single move or rolled out in phases.

In 2023, the Government signed off on a 35% fare increase for the sector. Sixteen percentage points of that adjustment have yet to be applied.

The Transport Ministry is scheduled to take the matter before Cabinet on June 1.

Egeton Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODDS), called on the Government to remove any option to split the 16% increase, arguing that operators have already waited too long for the adjustment.

Charles Powell, president of the Southern Taxi Association, backed Mr. Newman's position.