More Public Transport Service Corporation buses would be added to the Chaguanas route today to take passengers to San Fernando, Port-of-Spain and Curepe in the event that operators of green band maxis execute their strike action today.
PTSC’s deputy general manager, Carl Ramdeo said yesterday the corporation’s operations and engineering departments met on the matter and have decided to augment the services in Central if the maxi taxi drivers go ahead with the protest over their impending eviction from their current Chaguanas base.
“We will try to expand the services in Central without compromising others areas by putting additional units on the road.”
PTSC buses will begin to roll out at 5 am, the usual time, and Ramdeo and a team plan to be present at the scene of the protest to monitor the situation.
No less than 18,000 people are transported daily through the Chaguanas borough by maxi taxis, to Port-of-Spain and San Fernando, president of the Route III maxi taxi association, Julian St George said.
And another 15,000 travel by maxi from Chaguanas to Curepe, he said.
St George said some maxi taxi drivers from the Chaguanas to Curepe route and those working from Chaguanas to St Mary’s in Freeport are also expected to join in the protest. The T&T Taxi Drivers Network are also expected to show their support.
The maxi taxi drivers are protesting after they were served with an eviction notice to move from their current base opposite Mid Centre Mall in Chaguanas they have been occupying for 15 years.
They were served with the notice by the land owner and given until June 6 to vacate the premises. This is the fourth eviction notice they have received.
St George said the association was resisting any plans to relocate them to Ramsaran Street, in an open and uncontrolled environment, which poses safety risks to drivers and passengers alike.
Asked yesterday if his ministry had plans in place to deal with the displacement of thousands of commuters, Transport Minister Stephen Cadiz, said he was hoping it would not come to that.
Cadiz told the Guardian he had contacted Chaguanas Mayor Gopaul Boodan concerning an interim site from which the maxi taxi drivers can operate.
He said he also spoken with Eon Hewitt, president of the Maxi Taxi Drivers Association of T&T, to see if he could ensure the green band operators do not go through with the protest. But St George said Hewitt has fully endorsed the protest.
Cadiz said the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) is already challenged but noted its buses already work the same routes as the maxi taxis.
St George said the association will accept nothing less than an extension of time to remain where they are at present.
He said maxi taxis provide 80 per cent of public transport in Chaguanas and in the country as a whole and warned the protest could get bigger if their concerns are not addressed.
Cadiz said the issue over the land fell under the Local Government Ministry. He said differences in its evaluation between the Government and the owner have caused it to be long and drawn out.
“There has been no agreement.”
Concerning the maxi taxi drivers refusal to be relocated to Ramsaran Street, Cadiz said Chaguanas does not have many options.
“The owner of the land is the owner and has every right to the property,” he said.