Slow going for Falmouth commuters
Published:Friday | April 15, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Richard Morais, Gleaner Writer
FALMOUTH, Trelawny:
COMMUTERS IN Falmouth say they are experiencing difficulty getting public transportation to other areas of the parish, with children mostly affected.
As a result of the development taking place in the parish, more police are placed in the town. As such, there is a more rigid enforcement of the road traffic regulation, which has served as a deterrent for the scores of illegal taxis, which ply the various routes in the parish.
On any weekday, up to eight o'clock in the evening, there is a steady mass of people still in Falmouth, because of the unavailability of transportation.
According to a commuter, "Them (legal taxis) get 'cockaty' as usually them have to be running down people, but now people a run dem down." The commuter spoke of the refusal to carry students until seating demand is down.
Meanwhile, president of the Queen-of-Spain Taxi Association - the sole organisation representing taxis in Trelawny, Jonathan Bartley, admitted that the legal taxis could not carry the large number of commuters. He, however, stressed that he was not supporting illegality, as this has serious implications, especially if there is an accident.
He dismissed the suggestion, however that there is a humbug in taxi drivers becoming legal. "It takes under a month to get legal, and we are encouraging them to do this, but it is not happening as it should." Bartley said.
fitness test deterrent
He noted that some were opposed to this because the vehicles may not be able to pass the rigorous fitness test. The president also noted that illiteracy was a factor for some.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Falmouth, Collen Gager, said he was aware of the situation, and efforts were being made to assist illegal operators.
"The Transport Authority will be setting up an office by Monday here at the parish council to ease the process of getting the red plate," Gager told The Gleaner earlier this week.
On the matter of a school bus, Gager said a hotel chain has promised to purchase one, but this has not yet materialised.