The following represents a report given to me orally by someone in the transportation sector who observed incidents during the taxi strike on Monday, November 14, 2022:
Report
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| Thug being accosted by police officer |
My On The Ground Reporter is concerned that there is no press release from the government about the anarchy unleashed on the society today, He saw anarchy among protestors who racked up plenty tickets in Kingston. He said that some taxi operators felt that the rest of taxi operators should join them to defy the laws of the land.
The reporter saw taxi drivers who came to the corner of the taxi park in Cross Roads, shouting to operators and telling them that they were disobeying the order. Operators at the park wondered who authorized the locking down of the transport sector for a lawless cause.
One driver complained of persons attacking him - trying to take away the keys for his car. Passengers in the vehicle got scared and ran away. Attackers had ice picks, knives, machetes, and other dangerous weapons. A passenger also lost his telephone in the melee. It was stolen by a thug. He said taxi operators told him about other operators' vehicles being smashed and tires punctured.
Persons ensuring forcing that the protest was successful, were driving in red plate taxis and not their vehicles for private use, They were blocking the vehicles of those who were still operating.
The lawless wanted to overpower the lawful and government sat by as a helpless bystander. What that says for the governance of the country?
It felt better on the roads today because there was a different energy and feeling on the roadways. It was free of the pests, who operate weapons of mass disruption and mass disruption. It was great to travel on the roads notwithstanding the incidence of assaults. The absence of the lawless made a significant difference. There was a sense of sanity and responsibility which prevailed. It was sweet to drive on the roads. Those with high number of tickets will not conform.
Suggestions
If there was a time limitation for paying for the tickets and the time was running out and persons were becoming restive, and they could not pay by the stipulated date then the government could extend the rate.
Those who have large tickets should go into the authorities. Have a plan worked out. Have a time set to pay for the funds owed. Do not give them any write-off. They could be given a document to show a payment plan. If they are caught with outstanding tickets and they are without that document, then the offender should go to prison and the vehicle taken away. if you rack up a certain number of tickets then this would render the agreement invalid. Why so many tickets are outstanding? Government is reluctant to do what it needs to do because of this five-year election thing.
Prior to this it would take time to get a warrant but now it is an automatic warrant.
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If you have pictures of what happened on Monday, November 14, when members in the transportation sector went on strike, then WhatsApp your pictures to 876 816-5261.
Editors Note
The government of The Most Hon. Andrew Holness has an opportunity to let the lawless know who is in charge.
Those breaking the law should have their licenses suspended for at least a month, Those who intimidated other transport operators, should be tried and if convicted pay dearly for shutting down the nations transportation system.
Police officers should be equipped with cameras filming the actions of those thugs and the film should be used as evidence in a court of law.
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This lack of action sums up governance in Jamaica....they only have power over poor law abiding citzens....he who plays by the rule will always be shafted....the taxi and loader men have successfully built their garrison...kitchen knifecant cut dung guango tree
ReplyDeleteThey bully us the roads and now they are bullying poor people from earning a living and bullying the government into silence. In jamaica a bully gets away with anything.
ReplyDeleteShocked is all I can say
ReplyDeleteDon't be shocked you haven't seen anything yet.As long as we continue to build a transportation Shytsem that is more focused on being a backdoor tax office this is what you get.
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be first an understanding that transportation is like the bloodline of a country without which national development and growth is hampered.Jamaica gets a debilitating stroke each time taxis strike.What gone bad a morning can't suddenly come good a evening Whoooi.
The PM must address the nation outlining a plan going forward to structure a decent multi modal integrated transportation system.First order of business is to shut down or reconfigure the so called Transport Authority allow the tax offices to collect all transport taxes/fees.That incestuous relationship that occurs within the TA involving policing,planning,fees collection etc is like a badly operated shop pricing,hustling and selling things mainly for profit is backdoor taxation.
The government has to implement a system like in St Lucia : Everyone who wished to drive a vehicle of transportation in Jamaica has to first take part in a course for Defensive Driving!!! With this certificate they will be allowed to get a taxi permit or drive any of the public transport buses . All shall get a discount from the insurance companies, which will encourage those route taxis to do the course as well!!! The lawlessness will soon minimise!
ReplyDeleteThe government inherited a bad transport system and is trying their best to improve it. With COVID everything was pushed back. They need to bring out the soldiers to control those thugs who are removing people from vehicles.
ReplyDeleteOng what is going on in New York u would just walk up and a booth is on your vehicle. As a Jamaica we brake every law.
ReplyDeleteThe governments have been very poor in addressing lawlessness / crime in Jamaica. The latest initiative to address gun crime is a joke. Look to the Singapore model for solutions. Otherwise we maybe heading for a Haiti scenario; lawlessness is increasing daily.
ReplyDeleteWow done of them r indiscipline
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance is bliss. This attitude is what's behind all categories of crime. These people amass traffic tickets and have them pile up as they are expecting an amnesty. The government gave them one 5 years ago because they had so many to pay up, so eh, they should get another. Absolutely no respect for law.
ReplyDeleteThey believe they can shut the country down and have the public complying with their demands. So people are out in their numbers. Some taxi operators are not in agreement and so are on the roads working. No, no, not having it. Slash tires, pull people from vehicles and do bodily harm to the uncooperating public and fellow transportation operators were some ways to ensure their message was clear. We are not working and neither should you.
This is the picture we see daily regarding crime in Jamaica. A small group of terrorists hold an entire country hostage. This gives the taxi operators some confidence that they, a small group, can lock down the country if they get others to sympathize with them.
They amass traffic tickets and want people to fight with them.
Why? Because the government sympathized with them 5 years ago. So they break the laws and the government come to their aid. They feel encouraged that the government is more interested in the earnings from an amnesty than in law and order.
The way forward. The number of tickets earned within specific time periods must be determined as well as the consequences to ensue. Whether they are charged a fine, get jail time or have their licences suspended, it must be clearly outlined and enforced without prejudice.
Secondly, the ticketing system must be properly maintained. Drivers must be allowed some course of action for redress if they pay and it's not reflected on the system.
Let's hope we will not see public transportation operators strike for this senseless cause again. It is selfish and manifests as a symptom of the level of lawlessness within our society. Lawbreakers aka criminals asking law abiding citizens to support their cause. This is why we have a high crime rate for a very small country. We need an attitude check. Are you contributing to the anarchy and crime in this Jamaica? Some are perpetrators and others are bystanders, but both groups are guilty.