The GPS Dispute

With the taxi drivers engaged in go-slow protests and noisy demonstrations following the Government's determination to press ahead with legislation requiring them to install a GPS system in their cabs, it's difficult to have much sympathy for either side.

The Government has made a mess of the situation through its bull-headed decision to compel every driver to install the system at their own expense, its waste of money on pointless advertisements to try to get the public behind the scheme, and the perceived conflict of interest with Government MP George Scott owning one of the companies selling the system. Yesterday the Premier disingenuously claimed that the Government had offered to install the system free of charge - a statement reported in unqualified form by VSB radio news and on the front page of this morning's Royal Gazette - whereas in fact the drivers have to repay Government if they make a profit in their first year, a near-certainty I'd imagine.

But the taxi drivers are an unsympathetic bunch too. Causing mass disruption on Bermuda's roads - and whining about their freedom of movement being restricted when the police broke up the slow-moving convoys - is not something likely to endear them to the public. An unscientific poll on the Gazette's website already indicates that 58% of people think the taxis should be required to carry GPS (against 35% who think they should not).

As I understand it, Bermuda has four taxi dispatching companies and taxi drivers are required to sign up with one of them. Two of the dispatching companies joined forces in 2002 to try to introduce GPS but the attempt failed because insufficient drivers wanted to install the system and there was no legislation to compel them to do so.

Perhaps instead of trying to ram GPS down the throats of all the Island's drivers, a better solution would be to allow the dispatching companies to decide whether to adopt it. Those that choose to do so would require all drivers registering with them to have the system installed. Drivers who do not want the system could elect to register with another dispatcher. To encourage drivers to register with the GPS dispatchers, Government could provide incentives such as subsidised installation of the equipment (perhaps a time-limited offer), reduced taxi license fees or waiving the monthly radio rental fee. If GPS is as good as the Government claims, it should be prepared to spend some money to encourage the drivers to adopt it.

Elsewhere in the world, the value of GPS has already been accepted by a more customer-oriented taxi industry. Taxi firms in New Zealand have been using GPS since 1999, Irish taxis look set to get GPS this year, while in the UK a new service called Zingo uses GPS technology to allow Londoners to use their mobile phones to hail a cab.

Bermuda's taxi industry needs to recognise that the arrival of GPS is an inevitability here too.

Comments

[synonym on 24.06.04 at 20:10]

I don't think it's quite that simple.

Government has given the Taxi companies at least three years to come up with a better solution. Instead of doing so, they've continued to moan and complain and place idle threats against the Government. (Was the last election really that long away for us to have forgotten.. ?)

I think the point lies as follows: Most taxi drivers aren't putting in the 16hours a day they're required to by the law of their licenses. Instead of it being a job (shared by two drivers).. it's a hobby. They taxi when they feel like it.. and then moan about the fact that there isn't any money in it.. there aren't any jobs, and the dispatchers have their own personal favourites.

GPS will tell Government which taxis aren't paving the road for 16 hours a week, allowing them to have the concrete proof they need to revoke licenses from the selfish 'hobby' taxi drivers.

>>Running out of time here, so one quick point:

Government has continuously given the taxi industry countless breaks. I believe they pay substantially less for their taxi and vehicle licensing, than anyone else. They also get all sorts of importation relief. Heck- the guys at Raynor's even extend a discount to Taxi Drivers for their gas.

[Robina on 24.06.04 at 20:45]

Hello Synonym,

Is it 16 hours a day or 16 hours a week please? To be honest I have never encountered a problem with getting a Taxi either from the airport or my place of accomodation, but to be fair, have heard of nightmare stories. I think Phil makes a good argument. Not sure that my Taxi owning friend would agree but that's not mandatory!

Robina. The Limey in New Hampshire.

[synonym on 24.06.04 at 21:56]

I believe it's 16hours a day.. shared taxi?

So 8 hours a driver?

[synonym on 24.06.04 at 22:11]

And Phil made some vaild points- but here's the bottom line. They'll never be happy. They're doing it to prove a point. It's not feasible for Government to invest so much money into the GPS dispatching systems, unless the Taxi drivers are behind it to support it.

The Taxi Drivers haven't bothered to come up with another solution to improve their service. Instead of refusing to install the systems-- they're striking during the one week in the year our hotels and guest houses are completely occupied.

One nightmare situation is worth three told stories. Those three told stories will quickly transform into thirty. Those thirty will transform into a hundred, etc, etc, etc.

Ever played telephone?

Imagine what that's doing to our cloud of potential visitors / businesses.

I'll say this- he is part of our Government. The Government WE voted in.

His stand on GPS was crystal clear before the election. The public voted him in. (and I believe, he obtained the most votes out of everyone). Taxi drivers are servants to the public.

Not themselves.

[Travis Bickle on 24.06.04 at 22:56]

I'm a taxi driver.

I think someone should just take this GPS idea and just...just flush it down the toilet.

Loneliness has been following me my whole life. I can't sleep at nights. I drive my cab any time, any where. One of these days I gotta get myself organizized, I just want to work long hours.Loneliness has followed me my whole life, everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man.

Now I see this clearly. My whole life is pointed in one direction. There never has been a choice for me.

I'm waiting for the sun to shine.

[David Carpenter on 25.06.04 at 08:06]

In my opinion the taxi industry is a good example of how poor Bermudian customer service really is compared to the rest of the world.

Whilst I recognize that there are some very good drivers who have, for example, taken my guests on wonderful tours of the island, there are too many bad ones.

I can recall many times where I have booked a cab for the morning flight to JFK only for it not to turn up and be told by the despatch company that they have no record of me making the booking.

How many of us have experienced drivers who have an attitude and think they are doing us a favour and still expect $15 gratuity?, drivers who will not turn on the aircon because it uses too much gas?, want you to share the private hire from the airport but want to charge both sets of people full fair and finally drunk taxi drivers on public holidays who have been drinking all day.

Something has to be done and I think that whilst GPS is not the complete solution to the problems, its a start.

If anyone would like an example of how good a taxi service can be here, look up Quinton Bean who is also a qualified tour guide.

[Tiger Bay on 25.06.04 at 08:13]

I am in support of mandatory GPS. Like many Bermudians, I've seen it in use elsewhere and been impressed by how it improved taxi service.

At the same time, operation of the GPS system should have been publicly contracted out instead of handed off to a PLP insider. The whiff of favoritism -- particularly as Gov is partially funding his cost to set up.

Irony #1: The taxi drivers must feel betrayed by the BIU, who have been their traditional allies. No matter the dodginess of the principle, the one has always been willing to wildcat strike in support of the other. Shows how tightly the BIU and PLP leadership are linked -- even to the detriment of the working class and traditional labor allies.

Irony #2: In the last election there was some question whether the taxi drivers would boycott the Warwick election (Ewart Brown's seat). They voted, and obviously voted for him. Ooops.

Hey Travis, watch out for that Iris Steensma babe. I hear she's got some wacky wannabe boyfriends.

[Tiger Bay on 25.06.04 at 08:31]

The story is on the intl news wires this AM:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040625/WORLDREPORT25-6/TPInternational/TopStories

[Andrew on 25.06.04 at 11:15]

How can a government pass legislature that benefits private companies and certain pre-determined individuals? Perhaps the government should consider, in lieu of the cost of providing extra transport these couple of days, running the GPS program themselves. They could buy the equipment, and rent them on an annual basis to the taxis for a nominal fee such as $10. Surely the taxi drivers would have much less to complain about – this would provide the service the people want and hopefully meet the needs of the drivers – compromise is something everyone has to do. The government cannot go in bull-headed and blind and expect the taxis to conform.
Give the taxi drivers the option to buy their own equipment, or to rent the equipment from a government run organization. Make it attractive – offer incentives such as a free system for the first 200 drivers that show up to have it installed. This is a capital-intensive project that the government could easily subsidize. Surely this would make the whole thing more acceptable in the drivers’ eyes. Right now they are being forced to pay for something they don’t want – give it to them for free and they have only half an argument left.

[jake on 25.06.04 at 13:07]

Andrew,

What about the Insurance ACt, which requires audits of Insurance companies annually - captives included? That was hailed as the "full employment for Accountants" Act at the time, but it was good legislation then, and now. There is nothing wrong with the Government requiring action on the behalf of the taxi drivers, per se.

Dr. Brown is facing down one of the most difficult industries in BErmuda in an attempt to improve the service. For us. That is exactly his job. They have just gotten a raise authorised, but are unwilling to modernize. He has to force them.

As for the strikes, I am so sick of every dispute which goes against a group leading to a strike. Can we not see we are damaging everyone over issues that should be dealt with on an issue by issue basis. Look what we have by way of education results - a failing system - and the Teachers who were on strike have thier raise too. We need to see some accountability in the country. Go Dr. Brown!

[Lizardfish on 25.06.04 at 13:43]

Yep, too many bad taxis drivers. I'd say only 50% of the time, they have turned up for me. I've had to ask neighbours to drive me to the airport when they haven't been on strike! I've had the dispatch office lie about the location of the taxi "it's on your road now"... "oh yeah, well I am standing on my road, and I can see from end to end, and there is no taxi here at all!! "

I am sick of taxis in Bermuda and the GPS system, even though it may involve unwanted government intervention, is clearly going to make the taxi service better, so I hope they hurry up and get over themselves soon. If taxis are breaking the law by running their cabs as a hobby, and the GPS system is going to help enforce the law, then it is a worthwhile and just intervention of the government IMO.

L.

[Tiger Bay on 25.06.04 at 16:49]

We oughtta put GPS on all MPs as well, so we can track who actually shows up in Parliament, who's dozing in the lounge, and who's sipping champagne down at Port'o'call!
;)

[synonym on 25.06.04 at 21:18]

I don't care if Dr. Brown is anywhere sipping champagne.

That man gets things done. He's a true leader.

[Joe Bermudian on 25.06.04 at 23:55]

Dr. Brown a true leader? Don't make me laugh in the past 6 years he has been:

1. Publicly been linked to multiple allegations of corruption

2. Has been involved in a dispute at the airport that is still under investigation by the US State Department

3. Publicly admitted that lying is an acceptable means to an end. "We had to mislead you to win the election"

Is this true leadership? Maybe in Cuba!

As for the GPS issue, I am really bothered by government backing a private company, running advertising on behalf of a private company and establishing a framework that can only lead to a monopoly in taxi dispatching and in the digital dispatching system.

Despite the fact that there are several companies eligible to provide the gps system, if you listen to the Minister and even the Premier they continue to speak about this issue as though there is only one company EXCEPT when they are criticised for backing their political cronies companies. They have said that they can't run a pilot program because costs were prohibitive for the PRIVATE COMPANY and the company has admitted that Bermuda is too small for multiple companies to survive.

What this government is doing is wrong and if this was really about improving service they would be doing a lot more than forcing this system down the industry's throat.

I laughed at Sanders Frith Brown in today's Mid Ocean saying he's leaving Bermuda but I understand the feeling. Bermuda has become an ugly hateful place that sometimes I barely recognise. Life under this government seems to be more about confrontation, aggression and conflict than about what's best for the people.

Maybe I'm naive but I grew up in this country and I remember a better Bermuda than this and I don't hold much hope that things will get better.

I believe that this dispute will not end in a positive manner and I just hope that a peaceful solution can be reached

[Boogie on 27.06.04 at 10:45]

My only problem with GPS as it's proposed is that a Government MP is the main backer of the company. George Scott stands to make lots of money from this, and we don't know who else is involved.

This GPS debate has been around since 1998 and as I tell tacki drivers, Ewart Brwon has been elected by us to do something about this. What he really needs to do is do an "end around" and create two categories of taxi licenses. A limosine service for those drivers and owners who just want to make the airport-hotel-beach runs, and those who only service the exempt company execs and another classification for the minority of drivers who pick up locals. We must distinguish the owners (the ones who are really protesting) and the drivers.

Oh btw, taxis must be on the road for 16 hours a day but drivers can only be on the road for 12 hours. The thinking was the owner would be driving for 12 while a part-timer would be out for only four.

[Xando on 27.06.04 at 11:27]

walton brown (relative of dr brown) is now doing gps pr for the gov. the same walton whom the plp ditched hardell to give the airport media contract. all in the family baby.

[Andrew on 28.06.04 at 10:18]

Jake,

I am not concerned whether the GPS system will be good or not, nor am I concerned with the actions of Dr Brown per say. In fact, I am pro GPS because it means better service for me, as well as others wanting a taxi (call me selfish). I only think that in light of the whole reaction to the legislature, the government could offer some sort of compromise to make the whole transition go smoother and quicker. I agree with you that strikes are wrong. I question whether the taxi drivers will be punished for refusing to work the busiest week of the tourism year and disrupting traffic (an offence), and if in fact they are held accountable and there is some form of response, will they react as if they did nothing wrong and were the victims? I think what they did was a selfish act, like that of a young child refusing to play by the rules and then throwing a tantrum when reprimanded. Accountability has become somewhat of a problem in Bermuda in the last few years, since about the time the PLP took power (coincidence?).
If you watched the news that night, you will have seen that the premiere in fact offered almost exactly what I suggested – he offered the taxi drivers all free GPS systems, and they stubbornly refused – how silly of them. When they have to pay for these in the near future I will be interested to see if they come crawling back to the government, asking for free units (something they already refused).

[Joe Bermudian on 28.06.04 at 10:31]

The Premier himself has said that this sytem will NOT improve service. The reality is that cabs congregate where the "big money" jobs are (hotels, airports, Hamilton) to minimize their fuel expenses. If you think a cab is going to leave Hamilton to go to the airport to take someone to Grotto Bay it simply isn't going to happen. Right or wrong it just isn't cost effective for the drivers.

In other places where this system is very effective cabs are owned by companies and the costs of fuel etc are borne by the company. That combined with higher population bases results in for the most part better service.

The sad reality is that even after this huge conflict service will not be improved. The drivers are so pissed off at having this rammed down their throats that pure passive aggressive resistance will guarantee that the technology doesn't deliver

[lickinalong on 28.06.04 at 10:48]

Bermuda has too many taxis but also not enough taxis. That apparently contradictory statement is in fact true. There are times when Bermuda has far too many taxis on the road and times when there are just not enough. The demand for taxis varies depending on the weather, the number of tourists on the island and the number of international business visitors. The problem is that despite highly variable changes in demand for taxis the supply remains relatively static. I have spoken with taxi drivers who have driven me to and from the airport during a low demand period and I have been their one and only ride of the day. You would be an idiot to do that day after day during the winter. So taxi drivers if they are smart have adapted. Full time drivers have developed relationships with corporate clients and will work all hours with good compensation to keep those customers happy. Many of our aging taxi drivers have gone into semi-retirement. They may leave the island for months at a time especially in the winter when the demand is low. They also choose their hours carefully choosing to work days and avoiding the late nights. Once you are over 60 working the midnight shift hardly makes any sense.

It is my understanding that taxis are supposed to be on the road 16 hours a day, 6 days a week but I am doubtful that even 10% of taxis meet this requirement. Most drivers I have spoken with have learnt from painful experience that subletting their taxi to other drivers in the evenings and nights is a recipe for disaster. The part time drivers rarely look after the car carefully and one accident can put an owner of a taxi out of work for over a week while the car is being repaired. Again you would be stupid to let out your taxi just to meet a time commitment that the Government has ignored for years.

So what can Bermuda do? Dr. Brown’s solution is GPS which could lead to a solution but really isn’t a solution in and of itself. His staff in the Ministry of Transport would conceivably be able to now determine which taxis are not meeting the 16 hour per day requirement and could conceivably cancel taxi licenses. I say conceivably because such an approach carries with it a huge political risk. Can you imagine removing the livelihood of an aging taxi driver who has been a good ambassador over many years to Bermuda’s visitors? It can only be seen as a cruel and unusual way to reward those who have worked hard and well over the years. I see some pretty vexed drivers and their family members emerging from this approach.

The possible GPS solution is a “stick” approach to the problem when maybe more of a “carrot” approach would work better. It also doesn’t get to the problem of matching variable demand for taxis with a variable supply. I can see taxis being on the road for 16 hours a day while the drivers spend most of the day just lining up and waiting. That will be a terrible waste of manpower on an island that has a shortage of able bodied workers. It will also give the drivers plenty of time to perfect their disillusionment and anger with the Government which of course they will take out on their customers!!

Here’s a suggestion. Why doesn’t the Government buy back every year a set number of taxi licenses at market value to reduce the number of full-time taxis on the road. The full-time taxis remaining would be expected to carry GPS and work the required 16 hours per day. At the same time the Government could license temporary taxis that would be able to work when demand was high. Temporary taxis would be private cars outfitted with GPS and a magnetized taxi light that could be temporarily placed on the roof of the car. In periods of high demand they would be allowed to ply their trade but as the demand reduced they would be banned. Such an arrangement would provide a welcome second job for some Bermudians. For example I could see students working in this role during their summer vacations. Also old time semi-retired taxi drivers would be able to cash in their full-time licenses but continue working part time with the temporary licenses. It will take a bit of work deciding when to activate and de-activate the temporary licenses but hell we pay enough taxes that the Government should be able to figure that out.

[The Limey on 28.06.04 at 13:30]

Andrew - As far as I am aware, the Premier has not offered the taxi drivers free GPS systems. He has offered them free installation if they do not make a profit in the following year. I would imagine any driver who doesn't make a profit from year to year has already found themselves another job.

[Beep Beep on 28.06.04 at 14:28]

The Bermuda Government is trying to ruthlessly and obtusely apply 1980's thinking to a 2000' business reality that looks nothing like the tourism days of yesteryear (16 hour days - ha, even for two drivers if you can find a part-timer given our low unemployment rate and immigration restrictions).

1. No one, including Dr. Brown, has quantified with real data (not anecdotal posturing) how bad the taxi industry actually is performing - yet, GPS is being hailed as the best thing since sliced bread.

2. No one, including Dr. Brown, has analysed where demand for taxis comes from, how it has changed since the boom years of tourism or how seasonal it is.

3. No one, including Dr. Brown, has provided a projection on how much of an improvement GPS is expected to make to the service. Will it reduce wait times by an average of 5minuutes, 10 minutes? What about Dockyard and St. George's runs?

4. No one, including Dr. Brown, has provided a projection of the costs of GPS. Who is going to absorb the costs? Will they be passed straight to the customer, will they erode recently awarded gains? No one knows - yet Dr. Brown is legislating a solution with undeclared costs.

5. No one, including Dr. Brown, has even acknowledged the very logical impact that the decline in tourism, rise in international business, rise in cost of living (especially housing), decline in racism, increase in education among blacks, full employment and alternative opportunities for employment that never existed in 1985 would have on the current taxi situation.

6. No one, including Dr. Brown, has pointed out that immigrants from less-developed nations are employed in just about every other sector of tourism/hospitality - this is not so in the taxi industry (now compare this to the nationality of your average driver in NYC, Canada, London, etc.).

7. No one, including Dr. Brown, has sought to use common sense solutions to very simple problems. Eg 1. - Scheduled pickups should be confirmed with a number (as they are in NYC). In Bermuda, taxi drivers should be severely fined for a failed schedule pickup. Eg 2. Immigration can calculate how many non-residents are on every flight, and hotels can calculate how many departures they have on any given day. Yet neither the hotels nor airport issue load demands.

8. Dr. Brown has not publicly declared the costs or type of regulation for the digital dispatch companies fees (maybe it's in the legislation). The assumtion at this point sounds as if it is a flat rate service charged to taxis regardless of whether tourism is up or down. Not even the hotels and restaurants are recession-proof, so why should any dispatch company? That little detail needs to be worked out IMO. Make it a percentage of taxi revenues, and not a fixed fee.

9. GPS could be very helpful in analysing the performance of the industry. But if your objective is research, then this should not be implemented as a permanent solution - put it in 100 cabs and analyse the data. If it proves valuable, then graudate it from a market trial to permanent solution like any other private enterprise would be required to.

10. The dispatchers are waaaaaaay behind the times, and the record-keeping should be electronic. But computerised record-keeping and GPS are two very different technologies. Further, technology is not the solution to every single problem, and Bermuda does not have to have every whiz-bang gizmo that comes our way. Paying for your cab ride by debit/credit card - big bloody deal. Advertising in the back seat - big bloody deal, and from what market given our low competitive tourism market? Car alarms with location detection - right, like that's such frequent challenge and as if alarms ever stopped a thug from smashing someone's head in (hint: most drivers own cell phones).

11. Anytime the UBP was doing this to the taxi industry for one of their MPs and staunch supporters, the PLP would be crying bloody murder, racism, cronyism, etc.

12. The PLP would never attempt legislating a completely unproven "solution" like this on the Chamber, Bar Council, International Business, etc.

It's amazing that the Government is demanding taxi drivers to account for their activities when they pour cold water on drug testing, and take every opportunity possible to obscure the truth on potentially damaging issues - not that I think it was important - just ironic and hypocritical if you ask me.

PS: How many of you looking at the price of Bermuda House is willing to go out and spend $125k on a taxi? Is there any suprise that it is now used as a supplementary or retirement source of income? There's no way in hell I'd invest in a cab at my age and current economic situation.

[Tiger Bay on 28.06.04 at 15:53]

It will be interesting to see the knock on effect of this episode.

* Will the BIU be able to rely on the taxis to join their wildcat strikes, as in the past? (Not that the BIU does much now that we live in the workers' paradise of the New Bermuda!)

* Will the PLP be able to count on the taxi drivers to "get out the vote" as in past elections?

Ewart and the "unacountables" need to have VIP spaces at the airport for their shiny taxpayer cars, cuz they sure as hell ain't ever gonna get a taxi there!

[Beep Beep on 29.06.04 at 10:22]

In a nutshell, I think it comes down to this: If the taxi service is in that great a need of GPS, then there is no need to implement mandatory GPS. Those firms that provide superior service will be the ones that are favored by individuals, hotels and businesses. Those who don't use GPS will see a loss of revenue, and then be forced to go with the superior service. Just look at what impact introducing competition did for Cablevision's crappy service, then ask yourself why is the government legislating something that is not deemed by anyone as of paramount importance and value? I don't know if anyone has noticed this, but even the hotels have taken a neutral position. I have yet to hear the Bermuda Hotel Association endorse GPS. You'd think the Government would at least have gotten their unqualified buy-in by now.

Something else struck me this morning. Coming into work I passed taxi drivers with placards out near Johhny Barnes. I then passed the ferry terminal, where I see about 10 guys carrying their golf bags (obviously going to Belmont or Port Royal). Well, the Transport Minister had to anticipate that the drivers would strike (duh), and this was despite the obvious ramifications with anticpated tourist levels (we're fully-booked). So playing their cards despite the obvious outcomes could only mean that the Government intends to push the GPS legislation through no matter what the short and long term costs to our economy are. IE, once again the Government is doing things THEIR way, and could really give a toss what YOU think unless you are in agreement with what THEY want to do.

The Government's logic (assuming there is business-logic being applied here) would have to be that the costs of not implementing GPS are higher than the damage from potentially ruining the vacations of our much-desired guests (in what could now be called a fledgling tourism industry). Hmmm... if this was my business trying to get off the ground, I'd have opted for researching and testing a fundamental change of service at a time (the off-season) that could have the least negative impact on the clients I actually had success with here and now (after all, a flawed taxi system is better than no taxi system, isn't it). A graduated change just seems to be the most prudent way of going about things, but not in this case according to the Government?!?!?!

Of course this is all based on the idea that the taxi service is not that bad. That is, unless the taxi industry is sooooo bad that they must be upgraded without haste (no one has made that argument, mind you), the Government could have chosen a much better time and method of bringing this back to the table.

Personally, I just can't see the business-sense of Government pushing on this without having done any industry analysis, any service analysis, any market research, producing any service targets or revenue/profit projections. ...particularly now instead of November/December, especially knowing that the tourism projections were looking good. And with the full knowledge that we are at full employment ...and are not about to import expats to drive our cabs (as other major cities have). It's almost as if every fundamental rule of entrepreneurism is being flushed down the toilet here in this situation. Not that this is a surprise when you consider how both the UBP and PLP have managed the core tourism product!

PS: It should be noted that Government wasn't willing to absorb the political costs of a taxi strike. They didn't reintroduce the legislation when they could have prior to the last election (duh). But, given the obvious ramifications they are now willing to bet the revival of toursim . Then again, maybe this is just incompetence and/or good old fashioned cronyism...

[Xando on 29.06.04 at 11:07]

Its easy to forget how long this taxi dispute has been festering. This link goes to a 2002 editorial by Bryant Trew outlining some of the history and issues.

http://www.taxi-l.org/bermuda.htm

It perhaps explains the silence of the BIU on the issue -- the total lack of investigative reporting by the local media is perplexing.

[jake on 29.06.04 at 11:17]

I am amazed at the lack of coherence in your argument Beep Beep. Let's get back to the fundamentals here.

1. The only value that a taxi has is its exclusivity in the provision of service to the public. If it were not for Government regulations, anyone could offer transportation services to the public, and the competition would be such that the taxi license would be worthless.

2. There have always been regulations, on items like meters (from a certain company), dispatch radios (from two companies) and even what drivers have to wear (cannot wear shorts without socks, for example). They are subject to the rules because they have a license to do something ( provide transportation for a fee ) that the rest of us cannot do.

3. Love or hate the GPS, it is an initiative created by legislation, voted on and soon to be in place. What the protestors are doing: burning a taxi, "breaking down" in traffic, intimidating those who do not agree with them, witholding services from our tourists during the high season - is all illegal. The proper way to deal with this is to bring an action before the courts, or seek a change in Government at the first opportunity. Violence and intimidation are wrong, and causing the country's economic suicide is selfish.

Real action needs to be taken to confront this lawless approach to what is essentially an industrial dispute. The country is not owned by the members of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association - who do not even represent the majority of taxi owners, much less drivers.

It is plain ridiculous.

[loki on 29.06.04 at 12:28]

Let me first say that I am not a fan of the taxi industry in Bermuda - a major overhaul is way overdue. However, neither do I think that GPS is the appropriate solution to the problem (if, indeed, it is even a solution at all, which is a dubious proposition at best, in my humble opinion).

Essentially, I believe that the GPS system, which allows all taxis to be tracked, is an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Government doesn't know which taxis are obeying the law by staying on the road for 16 hours a day, so it's going to intrude on the privacy of all drivers by tracking all vehicles, regardless of whether there is any reasonable suspicion against any particular driver. To me, it's no different than putting cameras in our houses so the police can see what we're doing and make sure that we're not breaking the law.

One issue that I don't think has been raised yet is whether the law is even constitutional: our constitution provides for freedom of association. In the BTC v Quantum dispute a few years ago, which went all the way to the Privy Council, it was conclusively determined that freedom of association also means a freedom to disassociate - the freedom not to be forced into relationships with others against your will (I'm simplifying the law here, before any fellow lawyers call me on this). Once might argue that the law is unconstitutional because it forces the taxi drivers to associate with a private business against their wills. Now, I'm not saying that the taxi drivers would necessarily succeed in making a constitutional argument, but if they're looking for some form of legal challenge, they might just want to give it a try. BTC used a similar argument when the Telecommunications Minister issued a directive that they interconnect their telephone network with Quantum, and BTC didn't succeed, but the facts of that case were somewhat different.

Food for thought.........

[jake on 29.06.04 at 12:41]

Freedom of association is not breached by legislation requiring a service be implemented.

There are more GPS companies on offer than just one. What the proposed legislation contemplates is an extension of the existing regulations calling for connection to a dispatch service.

And the GPS is not only for tracking drivers who do not fulfill the LEGALLY manadated (and not new, by the way) rule that taxi's are on the road for 16 hours a day. It is also a practical way of fairly distributing jobs - something many of the protesters are against. It also means that times for service can be better estimated.

A better, law abiding, efficient service? Right, why would anyone want that.

[Tiger Bay on 29.06.04 at 12:43]

From Sunday's Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5449-2004Jun25.html

Manages to combine taxis, local crime, and Caricom all in one!

[loki on 29.06.04 at 12:53]

Jake,

Firstly, I'm not so sure that the constitutional issue is quite as simple and clear cut as you suggest. As I said previously, they may not suceed, but I do think that there is an issue here that they might want to take a look at.

Secondly, you miss my point somewhat as to why I don't agree with mandatory GPS: I agree absolutely that the taxi industry is in a dreadful state. However, the end does not always justify the means - I simply have a difficulty in invading the privacy of all drivers simply to catch out the ones that are breaking the law. For the same reason, I don't agree with mandatory drug testing. As far as the GPS being used for dispatching as well as tracking, well, quite frankly, I haven't heard anything to convince me that dispatching is going to be any different - even if a job is allocated to a driver, the driver is free to accept of reject it.

[Beep Beep on 29.06.04 at 14:00]

Jake,

I am actually in agreement with all three of your points, and I don't see how they invalidate my basic points. I agree that taxis need to be regulated, and I agree that their action needs to be dealt with where they have broken the law. But that does not mean that Government should be able to regulate without exercising prudence. There should be clear and sensible justification for proposed legislation (mandatory use of seatbealts being a good example). And in the case of the commercial sector, Government regulation should demonstrate some level of business sense. How can you justify the legislation of a solution when Government hasn't quantified the degree or type of the problem, doesn't know the costs of implementing the solution, hasn't tested it in our market, and has not provided any projections on the degree of improvement to the service after implementation?

These are basic business fundamentals that are being ignored, and that says incompetence or plain old cronyism to me. Do you think that Government's approach makes business sense, Jake? Would you fully-invest your own company's money in an untested product, when you haven't researched service challenges and done a basic ROI analysis (something you can't do unless you know the costs of purchase/implementation/maintenance)? I wouldn't operate any of my business in that manner, and I fail to see the wisdom in the taxi drivers doing it either.

As for the 16hours a day, aren't we talking about a requirement that has been on the books for 25years? At our current rate of employment, if Government isn't going to import taxi drivers they are telling drivers to be on the road 16hours per day - even in the off season! Are you prepared to do that Jake? I doubt it, especially if you have an unpaid mortgage (hell, even if it was paid off). Why then place such an unfeasible economic burden on taxi drivers?

We've seen the decline in tourism and the resulting loss of hotels and guest cottages. Government telling taxi drivers to be on the road at 1985 levels is like telling the hotels that they can't scale back service no matter how many tourists are on the island. Let's say that we have GPS today, and Government knows how many taxis aren't on the road in the off season. So what next when Government already knows that taxi numbers fall in the off season? Will they then fine drivers for not being on the road in the off season? Should Government start repossessing taxi licenses from those drivers who aren't on the road? Is Government going to tell drivers to abandon opportunities to make money in the off season and drive an unprofitable taxicab?

Tough questions are facing us Jake. Exactly how does GPS even begin to answer them?

[Beep Beep on 29.06.04 at 14:18]

Loki,

I think there is (or should) be a constitutional issue where Government tries to implement a law without doing basic due diligence on the issue at hand. I'm concerned about Minister X thinking he is an expert in my business and forcing me to do something that costs me money and is of no real benefit to my customers or to the country.

There should be basic due diligence standards for changing laws - other than "the minister feels like it" IMO.

[Tiger Bay on 29.06.04 at 14:28]

There seems to be a confusing - and very flexible - standard for public consultation surrounding new regulations and legislation.

Some efforts - such as the privacy laws - seem to go through never ending sessions of public input and commentary. Whereas others - which are equally important - just slam into place without any public input.

What is the standard/law/practice for public consultation on new legislation? I don't recall ANY taking place for the new gambling law, or this GPS episode.

[loki on 29.06.04 at 14:35]

Unfortunately, there really is no way to challenge legislation on the grounds that Government is being irresponsible, or hasn't consulted with the public. Bear in mind that legislation isn't passed by the Government, per se, but my the House of Assembly. Subordinate legislation, such a Regulations made pursuant to an Act, may have to go through various mandated procedures, but I'm not aware of any way to challenge an Act, other than on constitutional grounds.

[Beep Beep on 29.06.04 at 15:03]

I vaguely recall a couple of meetings where GPS was presented to the taxi industry, but this was long after Government had decided [on its own] that this was the solution. Government hasn't taken a macro-approach to addressing service - a couple of their boys want to make a recession-proof dollar and Ewart has backed him from the start.

In a country this small a few screwups can be given an audience large enough to make it look like a huge problem. It doesn't take much to get on VSB and complain about how you were left stranded, and voila, the entire country knows about a single failed pickup. Okay, so we all know that some cabs have failed on scheduled pick-ups, but what is the rate of failed pick-ups? Is it 1 out of 5 airport jobs are dropped? 1 of 10? 1 out of 50? 1 out of 100? And what's the cost to the country via GPS of ensure that no one ever gets missed? $0.25 per ride? $1.00 per ride? $5.00 per ride? How much of that is actual profit to the dispatch companies, and exactly how has the ministry proposed to regulate them if he the costs to provide GPS are not yet known? All pretty scary and irresponsible stuff in my eyes.

From where I'm standing, Government hasn't even provided the most basic statistics on performance, hence why I'm worried about their ability to dictate how a business is run on a whim. I'd feel a lot more confident about this had I seen some demonstration of business acumen on their behalf, but right now all I see is a cocky Minister of Transport who is hell-bent on having his way.

[loki on 29.06.04 at 15:17]

In trying to understand why government is so hell-bent on this issue, bear in mind that the Minister has quite a bee in his bonnet as a result of the Senate refusing to pass the legislation when it was previously passed by the House of Assembly. I believe, and I may stand to be corrected on this, that the Senate cannot refuse to pass it this time, having already done so once.

[Bill Akin on 30.06.04 at 01:11]

As the late Walt Kelly said "We has met the enemy and they is us" Pogo

[Tiger Bay on 30.06.04 at 08:51]

George Scott (who has been appointed to run the GPS system) is a PLP backbencher and "Chief Negotiator" for the BIU.

http://bermuda.election.bm/2003/george_scott.htm

Well George, you've got your work cut out for you. Get crackin!

[loki on 30.06.04 at 10:37]

FYI - after looking at what the constitution says about the Senate's power to reject bills and prevent them from being given the royal assent, it seems to me (and others with whom I have discussed the matter) that there is a chance that the Senate can prevent the bill from proceeding further, notwithstanding the fact that the Senate has already rejected once.

[Bill Akin on 01.07.04 at 02:54]

Does having a taxi licence make you a public utility or are you an independant business?

[Beep Beep on 01.07.04 at 10:26]

From what I've read online and in the papers, the line is blurred. Taxis are licensed as public service vehicles; however, they are in no way treated like civil servants. They are entirely responsible for their income/expenses and receive no significant support from the Government. You buy one at market rates and pay to maintain them at market rates (except for some gas stations who give a break on fuel). If you own a taxi you are own your own [have a look at the link that Xando provided].

If any of you are interested, have a look at the Bermuda Laws website and look up taxi. As I read them I can't help but think that once again this mess is entirely unnecessary. Since 1987 Taxis are subject to $1,400 fines per day for not having a radio. But - drum role please - Government hasn't been enforcing the law. Even under Ewart Brown, taxis have been allowed to get licensed every year with or without a radio. There are also some major laws that apply to dispatching companies, once again with sever penalties, but they two haven't been enforced. We've had our tourism numbers fall and fall and fall, but neither Government has made moves to progressively address the number of taxis or acknowledge the declining number of Bermudians willing to drive them.

Like so many other things in our society, this problem (whatever it may be, not even the Minister could give you a definitive answer) is entirely self-inflicted. The country has changed, tourism has changed, but the people and the Government haven't. The fact that Brown has not ever enforced existing laws or researched the problem saysto me that he is no where as responsible and progressive as we are led to believe. Having read the laws, I'm more inclined than ever to believe that this is just negligence, arrogance and cronyism. Sadly all too typical of Bermuda these days.

[Linda on 21.02.05 at 10:26]

Do the math. 600 taxis on the road for 16 hours per day catering to who? Local business accounts for maybe 5% of a cabby's business. Like it or not it is an idustry that depends on the Tourism business, a business that has been failing for years. Vehicles and maintenance is expensive. The average cab owner prefers to rent to one driver. In addition to this eight hour shifts don't suit the driver either. It's not a guaranteed job. You can't always make a decent days pay in 8 hours, so drivers put in the extra hours. At this time of the year there is next to nothing to be made. Government hasn't enforced the 16 hour rule for the same reason they don't provide their own public transport 24 hours. It's operated on a need to basis. The critics should try driving a cab for a couple of weeks. Wouldn't be long before they'd be singing another song.

[nermudanews on 06.07.05 at 08:57]

On the news the other night they stated that gps was only in use in the USA in one city. This is rubbish, it is in widespread use in taxis in the UK. A friend of mine recently did an install on 200 taxis. Most fleet owners in the UK use it for any kind of fleet of vehicles. Mainly because the owners of fleets want to know where they are. How about putting GPS in all government vehicles and police cars first as an example?