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CJIA taxi drivers find difficulty with new system
Taxi drivers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) say that contrary to news of them agreeing with the new systems to be implemented at the country’s largest airport, they are in fact finding difficulty with the proposal to have a turn system put in place.
The drivers say that the new system will not only cause them to lose customers but will also hamper the relationship and trust they would have built with customers over their years of service.
File photo: The taxi system outside of CJIA arrival section
At a meeting held last week, the airport’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramesh Ghir; Commercial and Administration Manager, Dursattie Doodnauth and Safety Officer, Manmohan Balram, met with authorized taxi drivers and ‘Red Cap’ porters to discuss the implementation of new systems.
It was pointed out that one of the first impressions passengers arriving at CJIA get of Guyana is derived from the interaction with the ‘Red Cap’ porters and taxi drivers. It was proposed that a turn system would be put in place.
Taxi drivers requesting anonymity told Kaieteur News that the system deals with drivers being placed into groups and being placed at the front of the line alternately on a daily basis. It was explained that the customer would be required to travel with the first driver on the taxi line.
This, one driver said, necessitates that customers who are “paying their money” have to go with whom they are told. The driver, who said he had worked at that same profession for more than 30 years, explained that there are special people who look for him when they come to Guyana. He said he has established a relationship with these people and they trust him when it comes to security, so he has his own clientele.
It was further explained that the majority of frequent travelers into the country are Guyanese so they look for special drivers, “it is not a case where we have lots of tourists who coming for the first or second time and could take any driver, its regular Guyanese who looking for their regular drivers,” the airport worker stressed.
Additionally, the drivers complained about the arrangement in place that require drivers to retire at the age of sixty. The workers are against the idea pointing out that they have to renew their contracts with the airport periodically and also pay for their taxi passes and to operate at the airport.
“To say when we must stop work is unfair,” the drivers pointed out. “We don’t have any benefits to get and they don’t have any pension for us, so how they can say when we have to retire.”
Airport officials say that they are however surprised at the taxi drivers’ objections since according to them, agreements were made at the meeting.
Public Relations Officer Aneka Edwards told Kaieteur News that because of complaints on the manner in which customers are being solicited, some measures had to be put in place. She explained that customers are feeling uncomfortable about being swamped by yelling drivers, so the initiative to put the turn system in place was devised.
As it relates to retirement, she said it is the airport’s responsibility to ensure that the drivers are mentally and physically capable of performing their jobs.
She added that the drivers are being advised about the retirement age so that they can prepare. She added that persons’ health tends to deteriorate, and the safety of passengers must be kept in mind.
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You can be 40 and sickly, and you can be 70 and be healthy, so age is not a factor to stop people from doing taxi work, maybe, they should let the drivers produce a doctors certifecate to say that they are in good condition to continue to work, just like how you have to have the car inspected to get a fitness certifecate.
if i im paying my money for a taxi and im guyana i would want somebody who i deem safe to drive me. not someone choosen at the line.
compared to the current Ny and other major cities where there is a line to get a taxi, this simply cannot work because as the article stated there are no benefits in the long term for these people.