Maxi operators called a one-day strike to protest plans by Warner to legitimise PH taxis under strict regulations. The intention was to score a victory by withholding their services to thousands of people who use maxis to get to and from work.
In anticipation of the action Warner enlisted officials from his ministry and the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) to devise a plan to minimise inconvenience to commuters.
It involved putting more than one hundred buses on the Priority Bus Routes and on other routes and also getting additional runs for the Water Taxi service.
Warner, his junior minister Rudranath Indarsingh and top ministry official joined PTSC Chairman Devant Maharaj from four in the morning to ensure that the backup plan for commuters worked. Warner and Maharaj said in a media release that commuters were pleased with the plan, which worked well.
Thousands of people used the buses with minimum delays and inconvenience, the officials reported. However Indarsingh told media that the maxi operators who chose to work were threatened.
"It is sad that a number of maxi-taxi drivers have met me here (at Five Rivers) and they have indicated to me that they want to work, but that they have been met with threats of intimidation and violence along the Bus Route," Indarsingh told reporters. "In fact, one of the drivers told me that he was threatened at City Gate."
Maharaj said he also heard similar reports. "We have received reports of threats and we have provided police support to counteract this. We have been in communication with the Minister of National Security to ensure that adequate security measures were put in place.
"We have also added our own private security at the City Gate compound to ensure the security and safety of the drivers and the commuting public. As well, on each and every bus, we have security personnel," Maharaj said.
However the president of the Route 2 Maxi-Taxi Association denied these allegations. Linus Phillip said drivers who opted to work were greeted with "friendly banter" from their colleagues.
Phillips said it would business as usual from Thursday because the maxi operators have made their point.
Media reports say only about five per cent of the maxis that normally work on the bus route were on the job. Commuters were happy for the extra buses and many people in their private vehicles stopped and offered free rides to strangers.
One commuter summed up the day this way: "It could have been worse. I came here expecting it to be total chaos, but things seem to be better than I expected," she told the Trinidad Express as she entered a waiting bus.
Warner said the PTSC's counter-plan was a success which was beyond his “wildest expectations.” The minister said the decision by maxi-taxi operators to strike because they were unable to hold a meeting with him was foolish. “It is a foolish strike that has no basis,” Warner said. “You strike because you can’t meet Jack Warner.”
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