PH drivers to become legal: Works Minister

PH drivers have performed a vital service over the years for people especially in remote rural communities where legal taxis don't operate as freely as commuters would like.

Their business has always been illegal but police often turned a blind eye to the operations.

Now the new People's partnership is planning on making PH operations legal in keeping with its commitment to serve the people and do everything in accordance with the law.

Acting Prime Minister Jack Warner told the Trinidad Guardian Wednesday the Kamla administration is set to make PH drivers legal in what he called a radical move aimed at assisting the travelling public.

Warner, who is the Works and Transport minister, said he has already discussed the matter with his colleagues and he will take a note to cabinet for consideration and approval.

Warner said the plan would be to give special licences to the PH drivers to allow them to operate legally in remote areas of the country.

“The special licence will authorise the PH drivers to ply their trade legally... commuters will benefit from insurance coverage, which will now be provided,” he told the paper.

Under the plan the drivers would not be required to changed their number plates to the "H' designated for regular, legal taxis. However he said there are many details yet to be worked out.

The Alternative Transport Association welcomed the move. President Gerard Whyms said PH taxis must be “regularised and brought under the transportation structure in T&T."

The previous PNM administration had contemplated a crackdown on PH drivers.