The Editor, Sir:

I never can understand why the Government allows unlicensed, unqualified, unknown and bogus taxi operators to roam the street day and night posing dangers to citizens in every aspect of their operations.

According to a report in yesterday's Gleaner, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields reported that the murder rate against women has gone up 30 per cent over last year. He went on to say criminals posing as taxi operators are responsible for many of these crimes against women and also children.

One of the major problems we face in this category is that there are too many unlicensed and unknown taxi operators on the street. I spoke to many of these operators who told me that they would do anything to get a license but it is easier to become prime minister of Jamaica than to obtain a taxi licence. Some of these operators have been operating as 'robots' for more than 20 years. Also the cost for these licences is so astronomical that as usual it encourages the regular bribery in order to get one.

High unemployment rate

The truth is that with the high unemployment rate, these taxi operators are not going anywhere. They will remain on the road. The Government needs to allow a 180-day amnesty whereby every single taxi operator should obtain a licence and make it affordable. After 180 days, if anyone is caught operating a taxi without a licence, he or she will be immediately sent to jail and the car is seized permanently.

Many will argue that you can't give every would-be taxi operator a licence. The fact is that licence or no licence, he/she is going to be on the road. Wouldn't it better to know who you are dealing with? If the licence number is stamped on the vehicle and the photograph of the operator displayed inside of the car, he or she will be less inclined to commit a crime.

I am, etc.,

ALVIN BUCHANAN

alvinb@htn.net

Florida

Via Go-Jamaica