THE EDITOR, Sir:
WE CANNOT continue to operate the way we have been in this country. We continue to let ignorance get the better of us. While on some grounds the taxi operators are justified in protesting some of the issues, others are unreasonable and some are downright foolish.
I agree that in a free market with competition the Transport Authority should be issuing taxi licences to whomever meets the criteria instead of rationing them. Let the market determine how many taxis are too much. This I believe is a issue that warrants protest by those who would be taxi operators.
However to protest against a 33 per cent increase in licensing fees that have not been increased in four years with inflation averaging 6-8 per cent over the period is unreasonable. Maybe it is the fault of the government for not increasing the fees annually in line with inflation, but I am sure that would be met with protests as well.
The previous points are moot and can be discussed but what is absolutely ridiculous is protesting about a $2 increase in the per litre price of petrol. This increase has been caused by rising world oil prices which are totally out of the control of anyone in Jamaica because we do not produce petroleum. So protesting against that makes absolutely no sense at all.
We tend to like demonstrations, but people please think before you act and be logical and reasonable. Nobody likes taxes but they are inevitable. So please let us think before we act.
I am etc.,
RICARDO SMALLING
rhamim@go-jamaica.com
Via Go-Jamaica
