San Fernando mayor Kazim Hosein is denying allegations by the head of the business association in the city that he is breaking the law in relation to the allowances he made for taxi drivers to occupy an extra portion of the busy High Street.
He said he made no unilateral decision and that the arrangement was sanctioned by a senior officer from the police Southern Division as well as representatives from Traffic Management.
Hosein was responding to statements made by San Fernando Business Association president Daphne Bartlett that the occupation of North/ South and Chaguanas taxi drivers on both sides of upper High Street was a deterrent to business operators.
She accused the mayor of giving the drivers permission to break the law by parking on the street opposite to their official taxi stand.
In a media release, Hosein said the arrangement was made in conjuction with the Taxi Drivers’ Associations, the Southern Division Police, the Traffic Management Branch and the San Fernando City Corporation. He said the arrangements are temporary as a permanent solution is being worked out.
“As the first servant to the citizens of the City of San Fernando, I take very seriously my responsibility to ensure that the proper procedures and laws are followed as I work to meet the many demands placed on my office by numerous stakeholder groups.
He said it is for this reason he ensured that the president of all of the taxi drivers associations representing Curepe, Chaguanas and Port-of-Spain to San Fernando as well as the City’s CEO, Indarjit Singh, representatives of the Traffic Management Branch Southern Division and Senior Supt of the Southern Division Police Irwin Hackshaw were all present at the January 11 meeting when the decision was taken.
“As mayor, I represent the interests of the citizens of San Fernando, but at no time do I make unilateral decisions.
“I am required to work together with the administrative arm of the SFCC.
“In this instance I was also required to have the consent of Senior Supt of the Southern Division Police Irwin Hackshaw.”
Hosein said the decision to allow nine parking spaces for taxi drivers on the left side of High Street was made not only as a way of supporting the taxi drivers, who are businessmen in their own right, but as a means to ensure customers can continue to visit High Street to support businesses who operate there.
The drivers will soon have use of Short Street as a waiting area, Hosein said.