With immediate effect, there will be increased foot, mobile and static patrols in the city of Port of Spain to deal with what has been described as the ‘flourishing scourge of PH taxi drivers.’
The decision was taken during a meeting between Acting Commissioner of Police, McDonald Jacob, and representatives of the Route 1 Maxi-Taxi Association today, Friday 10th September, 2021, at the Police Administration Building, Port of Spain.
Association Chairman, Eon Hewitt, raised concerns that PH taxi drivers are operating illegally in the city and making the maxi-taxi drivers’ legitimate operations harder to maintain.
Acting Commissioner Jacob, who was flanked by ACP Yusuff Gaffar and Supt. (Ag.) Sampooran Kissoonlal, at the meeting, said traffic management measures, will be implemented later today to deal with the issues raised. He also said that further measures will involve various arms of law enforcement responsible for the capital city, including Municipal Police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch, the Emergency Response Patrol Unit, Transit Police and the Traffic Wardens.
Acting Commissioner Jacob also assured the maxi-taxi operators that interconnectivity between Transit Police CCTV cameras and the Operational Command Centre will ensure police officers can monitor the maxi-taxi stands at all times for criminal activities. He said he hoped to have a follow-up meeting with the association in the near future to ascertain whether the measures being implemented have the desired effects.
– TTPS
