New taxi fares approved to align with increased cost of living - Hon Rymer
The rates were approved by Deputy Premier and Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye M. Rymer (R7), in an effort to align fares with the increased cost of living and the cost of operating the service.
Rates to affect several destinations
Hon Rymer, speaking to Virgin Islands News Online (VINO), said the rates are targeting cruise docks and island tours to other popular destinations and come as the USVI has also adjusted its rates.
He added that the last official taxi tariff took effect 12 years ago, and that the move will allow hardworking taxi and tour operators to earn a fair income as they provide a service and be an ambassador for the VI.
The revised fares are contained in Statutory Instrument 2022 No 106 - Road Traffic (Passenger Fares) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022, which was published in the Virgin Islands Official Gazette on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 and targets the cruise pier specifically, the minister said.
Hire car drivers voted to increase fares- Hon Rymer
The Transportation-for-Hire Industry, along with the Minister, held a meeting on October 31, 2022, when the majority of persons voted for the increase in the tariffs and proposed the now-revised passenger fares amendment.
When questioned on whether regular taxi and transportation drivers now have the liberty to increase their fares for local passengers, the Minister said those discussions are still to come, however, he reiterated that the focus of the current increase was on cruise and various port passengers, including on the sister islands.
See below amended act with new pricing & destinations:
21 Responses to “New taxi fares approved to align with increased cost of living - Hon Rymer ”
We need to retire some of the older drivers that should not be allowed to drive any more. Give the young guys a chance. They charge less that the full rates and help with luggage etc.
The high cost of living is affecting all citizens that are living in the BVI, especially the poor, and underpaid civil servants, but because the taxi drivers voted for the taxi fares to be raised, the Unity government rushly approved it, but has not, after many years of begging, raise the salary for low paid civil servants, and other low paid workers. Is this a political move to hope to retain power of the Unity government? Yes, it is.
Simple common sense says, first you should have approved especially low paid workers salary, then after, raised taxi fares.
Does the cart pull the horse or it is the horse that pulls the cart?
The above behaviour is what some people called good governance, only when it suit their agenda, not the majority of the people of the British Virgin Islands.
An arrow cannot pierce through a target until it is aimed at the target.
The human mind (brain) is the main organ in the body. When the mind is not functioning properly, the whole body suffers greatly.
Good governance is dependent on good balance (fair minded) political leaders that genuinely intend to serve all the citizens of all countries fairly well.
After an accident I was almost every
Day depending on taxis to go to the clinic and for treatment
Some drivers so old they couldn’t get out of the car to assist me with my handicap to get into the car
Some taxi dem seats ripped
and so dirty you don’t even want to sit inside
And beside of the unpleasant odor some have no pride and look sooo tacky. What our tourist must feel? The taxi drivers are our ambassadors!!!
!!!
What about get public work or your ministry help to increase heavy equipment and trucker rates as well fuel and other expenses is hurting us as well we play a big part of the development of these islands and pay or taxes as well as any other industry