Taxi operators are livid as the Ministry of Tourism is phasing the “H”  number plates out of the system. These plates will be replaced with “TX” number plates - the marker used for taxis.

This change is estimated to bring over 600 new “TX” number plates into circulation.

Taxi operators argue the additional plates will negatively affect their share of the tourist market space and are calling for more consultation on the matter with the government.

David Christopher says the taxi situation at the ports of entry is already difficult to manage, indicating that operators do not make money every day.

“When you work Monday, you have to wait legally until five days before it's your turn again. On good times and on fast ships, it might take three, four days,” he said.

He continued by requesting further discussion on the impacts of these new plates on current taxi operators. “I think the way it is being planned to be done is really not welcomed by the taxi union and the operators of taxis. So we call on the ministry to dialogue with us.”

Down south at the Hewanorra International Airport, tourists show little interest in utilising taxi services, a taxi driver explained.

Isidore Brisefert of the Southern Taxi Association says the tourists’ disinterest is negatively affecting sales. 

“Sometimes you only have one cash trip for the day. This to me is disturbing for an Association with 140 members and you have maybe five or six aircrafts for the day…Sometimes you have 10 or more vehicles that have left the airport with work and the other members of the Association have not worked,” he said.

Anthony Richard of the Holiday Taxi Association, on the other hand, says competition from tour operators prevents taxis from getting passengers.

“When a cruise ship comes in on a daily basis, the amount of people that have come out of the cruise ship, 90% of them are for the tour operators and maybe the 10% is just for the ground handlers.”