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President of the Trinidad and Tobago Taxi Drivers Network Adrian Acosta speaks to the media during a press conference about the safety of private taxi drivers at Library Corner, San Fernando. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

The latest fuel-price increase could see a hike in taxi fares.

Although the fare increase is not yet confirmed, the president of the Trinidad and Tobago Taxi Drivers’ Network, Adrian Acosta, said association members are discussing the impact of the fuel-price increase.

Asked if passengers can expect an increase, Acosta responded, “I honestly believe so. But I cannot speak on behalf of any other associations. I have heard from the membership that many of them are in discussion at this point concerning this last increase.”

Acosta spoke at a press conference on Tuesday at Library Corner in San Fernando.

“It is two (fuel-price) increases in six months. Just as all citizens of this country, we are feeling the pinch too. Two years ago, $200 used to fill my tank. Now I’m getting a half tank with $200.”

In his budget presentation in Parliament on September 26, Finance Minister Colm Imbert announced the $1 per litre increase in super and premium gasoline and the 50 cents per litre for diesel.

The price increase was the second of the year.

Acosta said taxi drivers “suffered” during the pandemic, owing to restrictions on the number of passengers they were allowed to transport.

He also criticised the Prime Minister’s comments about taxi drivers at political meetings. Acosta said Dr Rowley spoke about how much drivers make daily and how they should charge.

Acosta challenged Rowley to work a taxi for at least six months before commenting on taxi drivers.

He said the prime minister receives perks for travel, housing, and other things, unlike ordinary tax-paying people.

“It is unfair for him to give us two fuel raises in six months and turn around and say things about taxi drivers.

“The Government gives taxi drivers absolutely nothing. We have to fend for ourselves. We have high-maintenance vehicles and must ensure they are working properly.

“It is very disrespectful for the Prime Minister to say anything about us, who sometimes work 16 hours a day to help mind our families and see about our vehicles.”

He added that taxi drivers must have their cars inspected yearly, which was an additional cost.

Acosta is also the Chaguanas/San Fernando Taxi Drivers Association president.

He once again criticised private hire (PH) drivers, accusing them of being violent, parking at taxi stands and threatening taxi drivers daily, and renewed his call for the Government to clamp down on (PH) drivers.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Taxi Drivers Network Adrian Acosta speaks to the media during a press conference about the safety of private taxi drivers at Library Corner, San Fernando. – Photo by Ayanna Kinsale

Acosta recalled a confrontation on Saturday in Chaguanas with a PH driver who he said had parked at the taxi stand. The man began to use obscene language, saying he was not moving.

Acosta said he started to film the incident on his cellphone.

The angry man went to his car, took an icepick, and charged at Acosta.

“Luckily, I am a man who can defend myself. I hope this does not happen to anyone in the future. He slapped the phone out of my hand,” Acosta said. “I hope the people in authority are listening to us, and they would not wait until somebody dies to address the problem.”

Acosta said he reported the matter to the police, but no arrests had been made as far as he was aware.

He praised Chaguanas Borough Corporation for “accommodating” taxi drivers and said borough police frequently patrol the streets.

“But as soon as the police and other law enforcement are not there, the PH driver seems to take over. We also have a lot of lawless taxi drivers who ply their trade in and around the stand daily,” Acosta said. “A more frequent police presence or traffic warden, we believe, would bring much more comfort to the law-abiding taxi drivers.”

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Two days after it was reported that a 4-year-old consumed a poisonous substance that she found while playing in the yard, police have now secured a confession statement from the mother who admitted to forcing the child to drink the poison.

Police had stated that the child, Tinesha Shamshundar of Number 50 Village Corentyne is hospitalized in a critical state at the New Amsterdam Hospital.

However, initially, the toddler’s 23-year-old mother had told police that she collected the weedicide from her mother-in-law to spray the yard and she had secured it in her goat pen.

She claimed that the child was playing in the yard and subsequently told her that opened that bottle and drank the substance.  Both the mother and father were reportedly arrested.

During interrogation, the woman told detectives that her husband returned home under the influence of alcohol and an argument broke out between them that later turned physical.

The husband, on the other hand, related that his wife had threatened to consume poison and feed it to their only child.

Upon receiving this information, she was again grilled by the police and eventually confessed to forcing the 4-year-old to drink the substance.

Both parents remain in custody while doctors are monitoring the child’s condition.

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Chief Health Promotion Officer in the Ministry of Health Shanika John is reminding Vincentians that vaccines are still available at Health facilities through the island.

Ms. John said although persons are still getting vaccinated, the country is still yet to achieve its vaccination target.

Rawdica Stephen tells us more in NBC”s Covid-19 update.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/COVID-19-UPDATE-624.mp3

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The 2022 National Science and Technology Fair will be held from November 7th to 11th with the theme “Scientific Innovation and Creativity – Keys to Our Nation’s Resiliency”

The Ministry of Education today hosted the official launch of the Fair at the Curriculum Development Unit Conference Room.

Education Officer for Science, Juanita Hunte-King say the fair will be held at Kingstown Anglican School Annex opposite the Victoria Park in Kingstown.

She outlined the objectives of the Fair.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FAIR-OBJECTIVES.mp3

Mrs. Hunte-King also highlighted the importance of the theme.

https://www.nbcsvg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/FAIR-THEME.mp3

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Though Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Western, Phillip Henriques, has said he will meet with residents of Southwood in Frankfield on Wednesday, those who protested Monday say this does not mean their protests will end, as they need a timeline for the replacement of a bridge that was washed away in 2017.

The residents staged Monday’s protest over the bridge after a child and a woman were reportedly swept away by rising water last week when Jamaica was experiencing the effects of Tropical Storm Ian. They were reportedly rescued by a young man who was nearby, and saw what was happening.

A schoolgirl holds a placard during the protest in Clarendon North Western on Monday.

The protest was staged at the entrance to the community on the Frankfield to May Pen main road and saw about 200 people, many bearing placards, expressing their frustration.

Some residents cut down trees and used other debris to block the road while calling on Henriques to replace the bridge, as promised. The MP did not turn up to the protest but said that he would meet with residents on Wednesday morning.

Since the bridge was washed away, residents say they have been walking or driving through the Rio Minho to get to their community. When the water level is low, residents can cross with the water splashing around their ankles. However, when the water level rises, individuals say they have to strip below the waist to cross the river to get home.

There is no other way to enter the community by motor vehicle, and the other access point takes pedestrians along an old train line, for which surrounding hillsides become prone to land slippage during heavy rains.

Lornett Brown, the grandmother of the child who was swept away before being rescued last week, said her family barely avoided a tragedy.

According to Brown, her seven-year-old granddaughter was crossing the river with several persons, including the woman who picks her up in the days, when she fell and was carried away by the water before being rescued.

Some of the residents who gathered to protest on Monday.

According to councillor-caretaker for the Frankfield Division Karen Carty (People’s National Party), who is also a resident of Southwood, residents had planned a protest some years ago but then MP Richard Azan had lobbied for a bridge. It was reportedly put to tender twice, but no bridge was forthcoming.

Carty, who also recently fell while crossing the river, reportedly suffering “bruised ribs” in the process, said she will be lobbying with the residents to have the bridge replaced.

The police were on the scene on Monday, and after the residents got assurances from Henriques that he would visit the area on Wednesday, the blockage was removed.

Southwood resident Brown also said on Monday that she has a daughter who had been experiencing multiple seizures that afternoon. Brown said all she could do was watch helplessly because no taxi would go into the Southwood community to transport her to the hospital.

“If we had a bridge, taxis would come over here. No taxi wants to come into Southwood, or my daughter would be on her way to Spalding. So I’m just sitting here watching one seizure end and another one starting,” Brown lamented.

Another resident of Southwood, who gave his name only as Clive, said they would wait on the MP’s visit on Wednesday; however, if he does not come with a plan to replace the bridge, they would be taking to the streets again to voice their concerns.

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