Mr. Rolle recently explained that authorities will give points to drivers who break road laws, which could ultimately lead to the suspension of licenses.
“That’s one of the projects we will be working on vigorously and seeking to introduce,” he said.
“Once you have in place a comprehensive penalty or demerit point system where persons know that their licenses will be suspended or revoked, they would be more careful not to do certain things,” Mr. Rolle said.
He said the public transportation system continued to be plagued with problems in 2003, including many jitney drivers who refused to stop at designated areas, some taxi drivers who overcharged passengers and the constant battle between the limousine and taxi drivers.
Mr. Rolle emphasized the need for the Road Traffic Act to be better enforced so that those in the industry could be properly disciplined.
“Enforcement is critical, while the next component is strengthening the existing laws,” he said. “Some conditions in the Road Traffic Act have not changed since it came into force in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Because the industry has changed, there appears to be a need to create legislation that would deal with the changing nature of the industry.
“There’s a need for more organization…I think most challenging this past year was how to bring some sense and reasoning to public transportation,” he added.
Mr. Rolle said while more than 4,000 public service licenses have been issued, not all are being put to use.
Public service drivers, meanwhile, have mixed reaction to the plans to implement a demerit system.
“I welcome that way of going about it, because you have some drivers who do not live up to the standard,” said George Davis, who has been a taxi driver for the past three years. “They fall down on the job.”
Terry Duncombe, who said he has been driving a taxi since 1987, questioned the validity of a demerit system, adding that if it is implemented, there should be a merit system as well.
“There must be some standard for the government too,” Mr. Duncombe said. “They ask for taxi drivers to be professional, but if you come around here in this area of the Welcome Centre, you will notice that this place needs to be painted, rats are running all over the place and the taxi cab drivers’ bathroom is in one mess.”
Vernal Moss and Bercil Anderson, two other cab drivers, insisted, however, that a demerit system for public service drivers is long overdue as there are too many taxi drivers who do not conduct themselves professionally.
“Some of them are only in it for the money and not really for proper service. Service is my thing,” Mr. Moss said. “My motto for the past 42 years as a taxi driver [has been], ‘It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice’.”
Mr. Anderson added, “I think there are a few bad apples that the authorities need to find a way of weeding out.”
ļ¾ President of The Bahamas Taxi Cab Union Leon Griffin said he would support a demerit system if it were properly implemented.
“It has to be done legally because if you just come by and give him a demerit because you don’t like him, I’m going to make noise,” Mr. Griffin said. “But as long as it is done correctly, I have no problems with it because we do have some in our business who shouldn’t be there.”
In his interview with the Bahama Journal, the Road Traffic Controller also said the department plans to hire a consultant in collaboration with the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).
“The consultant will look at, among other things the whole use of motor vehicles in the Bahamas and specifically, we want to engage in a discussion on the formation of an association for public busing,” Mr. Rolle said.
He said the department wants to amalgamate the buses to assist in reducing the competition.
“In essence, what we will do is form an association where drivers and other stakeholders are given a stake in the industry, but at the same time where owners are properly organized where they could be managed by the department,” Mr. Rolle said.
Hadassah Hall, The Bahama Journal
