Private cars as taxis: Corentyne hire car operators call for action

Hire car operators serving the New Amsterdam to Corriverton route are calling on authorities to crack down on private vehicle owners who they say are illegally transporting passengers and affecting their livelihoods.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Atherley McDonald, a hire car operator with 15 years of experience, said the issue has become increasingly problematic over the past two to three years.

McDonald said licensed hire car operators are required to comply with strict regulations, including restrictions on vehicle tint, music systems and dress code, while also paying road service and other fees. However, he claimed that private vehicle owners are operating freely without meeting the same requirements.

“We are asking the Minister of Home Affairs, the Police Commissioner and the Regional Commander to look into this matter. These private cars are working every day just like hire cars, but they are not operating under the same rules and regulations,” McDonald said.

He added that the growing number of private vehicles collecting passengers has reduced earnings for hire car operators, who are already struggling with rising operating costs, including fuel prices.

“Some taxi services have private cars working, that is wrong. They are supposed to have hire cars to provide services not a private car,” he said.

Another operator, Ivor Dhuman, echoed similar concerns, stating that the increasing number of private vehicles on the road has made it difficult for licensed operators to secure passengers.

Badhram Singh, who has worked as a hire car operator for about 20 years, described the situation as unfair and said many operators are facing financial hardship.

“This is the hardest time because everything gone up. We want the government to just help we concerning the gas price and the police stop the private cars to work. The extra money that we supposed to make the private cars making. It’s unfair for us to get hire cars and private cars doing the same work,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, Region Six Traffic Officer Superintendent Charles Hooke acknowledged the issue, noting that some vehicle owners are operating private transport services from their homes through phone bookings.

He said the police are encouraging members of the public to report such activities, as operating a private vehicle for hire without the necessary authorization is an offence.

Hooke also urged citizens to avoid using private vehicles for public transportation, warning that passengers may not be fully covered by insurance in the event of an accident.

“Private-hire is an offence against the State. Persons who travel with private vehicles are not fully covered by Insurance in the event of them involving in an accident wouldn’t benefit anything in terms of having a reward from the Insurance company. Were are asking persons to desist from traveling in private vehicles,” Hooke stated.