As the Christmas Season approaches a high point, some local Taxi Operators based in Kingstown have been complaining that business for them is slow.
The Taxi Drivers told NBC News that they feel they should be getting more business from International Cruise liners, at the Cruise Ship Terminal in Kingstown. Another sentiment expressed, was some Taxi Operators said that they feel that there is favoritism in the Tourism Sector and they claimed that it is not getting any better.
Winston Lewis, Taxi Operator said that often times they do not receive returns from the 80 dollar license fee which is paid to the SVG Tourism Authority during the Cruise Ship Season.
Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Cecil Mckie, explained to NBC News that it is mandatory for taxi operators throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines to become certified, in order for there to be proper management of services.
Minister Mckie further stated that there is a system that the Taxi Operators must be guided by, in order to receive adequate service. He said persons who do not go through that process they basically will not be allowed to operate within the space in of the port authority where the cruise liners come.
Therefore, there is no guarantee that they will be able to access direct business from the cruise ships that dock.
