E&I's 'risk' is driving change
IT MUST have been difficult for local taxi drivers to read a highly critical report on their industry, commissioned by the Environment & Infrastructure Committee, published just a few weeks ago.
After all, it said the sector had ‘very low current credibility’ and the fractured nature of individual drivers, largely working as it suited them, and with no meaningful representative sector body, was not a recipe for a quick fix.
Therefore it is good news to see that, with support from most drivers, the E&I’s early decision to pursue a simplified application process for drivers has already seen more than 40 permits issued.
‘E&I took a risk, but I think they did the right thing,’ said Leon Gallienne, the former president of the Taxi Owners’ Federation.
‘My view is that it was needed to help us provide the standard of taxi service which Guernsey deserves.’
Drivers are still looking for other recommendations to be acted on, including more on driver recruitment and training, but the committee should be applauded to making rapid and pragmatic changes which should help the industry, and, by extension, the public.
But there is more still for the committee and the drivers to do.
Everyone, regular, occasional customer, or tourist, wants a taxi ‘now’, when they need one. Hopefully these extra drivers will make that a more realistic prospect.