The taxi fare between Chaguanas and Port-of-Spain has been increased from $9 to $11. And some angry commuters are planning to boycott taxis and take the bus. After much discussion, the Port-of-Spain/Chaguanas Taxi Drivers Association decided to increase the fare by $2 because of the recent gas price hike announced by Finance Minister Colm Imbert.
So said Nicholas Moore, president of the association, who said the new fare would come into effect on May 9. He said Port-of-Spain/Chaguanas taxi drivers have already been “feeling out” their regulars and were bracing for disapproval of the increased fare.
“People may feel it is unfair. Some of our passengers said they were more comfortable with the a $10 fare,” he added.He said the association decided to increase it by $2 because it was expecting another increase in the price of gas in the September budget.
“Based on what Imbert is doing, taking off the subsidy piece, piece, we are planning for another gas price hike.
“We really didn’t want to,” he repeated, “but we are playing it safe. We will not raise the fare again if there is another gas price increase. The $11 fare will remain for about ten years,” he promised.
Moore said Chaguanas/Port-of-Spain drivers, who had not raised their fares for nine years, held their hand during recent previous gas price increases while others were raising their fares. He said after the last announcement by Imbert, drivers had been really feeling it. “The amount we spend on gas for the day jumped from $120 to $170.”
Imbert, in the March 2016 budget review said: “The cost of super gasoline will be increased by 15 per cent to $3.58 and diesel by 15 per cent to $2 a litre.” He said the price of “super gas” was being subsidised by almost 100 per cent at the pump and diesel by over 200 per cent and even with those increased fuel prices, the subsidy in 2018 is expected to exceed $1 billion.
Moore said their $2 increase was only to pay for gas to continue providing their taxi service.
“We are not talking yet about increased prices of car oil and other parts or the general cost of living. Everything gone up by 50 per cent.” He said it just was not fair for people to call on taxi drivers alone to be patriotic and keep their prices down. “The parts place raising their prices too. Everybody raising their prices,” he added.
Some taxi drivers operating the Chaguanas to San Fernando route increased their fares earlier than others amid much protest from some of their own fellow drivers who accused them of being unpatriotic. All have since increased their fares from $10 to $12.
Fares between Port-of-Spain and San Fernando increased from $15 to $17 and between Curepe and Chaguanas from $7 to $8.