The Government of Grenada will examine the possibility of providingย additional relief support to the nationโs taxi-drivers, a category of persons particularlyย hard-hit by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
At a meeting Wednesday with the Prime Minister, Dr. the Right Honourable, Keith Mitchell and two of his Cabinet colleagues, executive members of the Grenada Taxi Associationย appealed for Governmentโs support as they struggle to survive. The appeal was notย simply for a handout but for meaningful ways to help protect livelihoods such as aย moratorium from lending institutions and concessions for the purchase of buses to provideย public transportation.
The majority of taxi drivers have been without income since the pandemic reached ourย shores in March last year, halting cruise ship operations and significantly slowing stay over arrivals.
Speaking on behalf of members, President of the taxi association, Mr. Cosmos Williamsย said, โIt is tough; we are looking for help in any form. We are grateful for the stimulusย package we received but it has been almost a years that we have been without any real income. A few of us have options, like Iโm doing some farming but the majority of membersย do not have an alternative source of income. I think it is unfair that some people shouldย be seeking increases at a time when so many others do not even have a source ofย income,โ
Mr. Williams also suggested that Government be pragmatic in its approach when theย cruise ship industry resumes operations, to ensure that the country to remain aย competitive and attractive destination.
In response, the Prime Minister acknowledged the plight of taxi drivers and many othersย who have been without any income for several months and welcomed the variousย suggestions made.
Dr. Mitchell said, โMy advice is that you compile the various suggestions for howย Government can assist and share these with the Minister of Finance who will arrange aย meeting with you, next week. Following that, recommendations can be made to Cabinet
on what Government can actually do to help. Remember too, Government has its ownย challenges with a significant reduction in revenue but we also have a fundamentalย responsibility to help the people and that is what we try to do.โ
The Prime Minister also commended the taxi drivers for their nationalistic approach, notย simply demanding assistance but being willing to explore ways to work together toย achieve a common objective.
He said, โThat is the kind of approach we would like to see other organisations take inย addressing matters. This is not simply about a particular Government or group of persons; this is about our future, our country, our economy; so much is at stake. Economies areย being destroyed all over the world therefore we must work together to find solutions thatย will benefit all The reality is, while some are receiving salaries and allowances everyย month, others do not have a single cent coming in. Government is prepared to examineย all possibilities but in seeking solutions, we must think of our brothers and sisters who areย also struggling.โ
The Prime Minister expressed optimism that we will soon see an uptick in economicย activity as the COVID-19 vaccines become more available and world travel resumes inย earnest and life returns to some sense of normalcy.
Finance Minister, Honourable Gregory Bowen and Minister of Tourism, Honourableย Clarice Modeste-Curwen also attended the meeting with the taxi drivers.
