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Taxi drivers upset
#123530
03/09/2017 10:15 AM
03/09/2017 10:15 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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SMN news story I actually don't understand what this is about, but if I'm a cruise ship passenger, I'm not going to be too happy about someone coming up to me and putting some kind of arm band on me and telling me which taxi driver I can use!! And refusing to take someone to the French side??
Last edited by Carol_Hill; 03/09/2017 10:22 AM.
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123534
03/09/2017 01:01 PM
03/09/2017 01:01 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,649 Brookfield, CT.
pat
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Sounds to me as though this is one more black mark against the island government and the taxi drivers association for protecting one specific industry at the expense of another, only in this case it's not the taxi association against the rental car owners but the association against other licensed taxi drivers. Could that possibly be the right conclusion to draw from the article posted?
Respectfully,
pat
"Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them."
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123540
03/10/2017 08:04 AM
03/10/2017 08:04 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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Not sure what this is about and I forgot to ask Junior last night.
One continuing problem is the "gypsy" taxis. While they probably can not not work the pier/harbor as I doubt they could access it, they are a problem in town and elsewhere.
I have seen more than usual and even here at Royal Palm, there are routinely 2 or so hanging out. "Taxi" sign in the window but resident plates. I questioned one about it and he gave me a number of a taxi and when I asked my friends about that number, totally different description of the guy. I am going to mention this to Royal Palm.
J.D.
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#123541
03/10/2017 09:15 AM
03/10/2017 09:15 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Reading and re-reading the article, I got the impression it was a UNION issue. The other drivers apparently have licenses from the government, so are not gypsies, but they don't belong to the union.
Carol Hill
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Re: Altercation at Alegria
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123543
03/10/2017 10:34 AM
03/10/2017 10:34 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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Not sure what the deal is but I heard about some altercation.
I did talk to the new manager here at Royal Palm and hebasically doesn't care about gypsies working here. Said there was not much he could do and it is the "way of the island". I then asked who was responsible if a guest asked for a taxi and the resort called or put them in a gypsy. Not much response at that point.
J.D.
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Re: Altercation at Alegria
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#123544
03/10/2017 10:36 AM
03/10/2017 10:36 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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JD--I really don't think this is a gypsy situation. The original story said that the taxi drivers in question have a license from the government.
Carol Hill
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Re: Altercation at Alegria
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123545
03/10/2017 10:42 AM
03/10/2017 10:42 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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Could very well be.
There is though a huge gypsy taxi problem on the Dutch side and I would personally not get in one.
J.D.
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123547
03/10/2017 09:57 PM
03/10/2017 09:57 PM
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I spoke with a long time taxi driver friend about this. His take is there is an agreement between one of the port agents that books tours for cruise ships and also one of the taxi driver unions. The agreement to transport people from the pier to Sunset was for $16pp round trip. Some drivers were supposedly collecting $8pp on the way out but then on the return some were doing it for $5pp. I am not sure if Sunset has anything in this or what the actual facts are but there was supposed to be a set price for trips sold on the ships and also one of the taxi unions. Some drivers became upset as they thought the variance in pricing made them look like they were cheating people and I guess the wristband thing came about.
I am sure there is more to the story but this is my summation of it from a short conversation this morning.
J.D.
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#123548
03/10/2017 10:26 PM
03/10/2017 10:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Huhm, OK, still seems like to me the taxi drivers are wrong, making agreements with the ships to keep prices artificially high..
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123549
03/10/2017 10:36 PM
03/10/2017 10:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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One of the port agents that books tours with cruise lines set the price and the taxi drivers just followed. No idea what the entire story is but usually beach runs and popular destinations are pretty much set prices.
J.D.
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#123550
03/10/2017 10:52 PM
03/10/2017 10:52 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Sorry, rates set by whom? If it's set by the SXM government, no problem. Set by the cruise lines?? That I have a problem with..
Regardless, I can't see the cruise lines being too happy with taxi drivers refusing to take customers to the French side. Someone could still convince me otherwise, but all I see so far is that the taxi drivers union is wrong..
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123551
03/10/2017 11:00 PM
03/10/2017 11:00 PM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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Basically like a tour booked on the ship. The ship works with a port agent for a tour, what it includes and the price that the ship sells it for. I think the ship must sell a trip to Sunset and back for $16pp. Could be on a bus or a larger taxi.
I am not saying it is right or wrong, just relaying what I was told.
J.D.
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#123552
03/10/2017 11:02 PM
03/10/2017 11:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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OK. Still not sure how that figures into them refusing to take people to the French side, etc.
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#123556
03/24/2017 01:30 PM
03/24/2017 01:30 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Agreed, I don't blame the non member taxis either. I would be pretty angry at the situation, but as you say, I would just pay again and complain to the ship.
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: SXMScubaman]
#123558
03/24/2017 01:37 PM
03/24/2017 01:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Don't get used to it!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: ruralcarrier]
#123563
03/24/2017 04:29 PM
03/24/2017 04:29 PM
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,583 Sacramento, CA, USA
gtaylor
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This is quite a change from just last month. We were there on a cruise and they had signs such as this posted for all cruiser-typical destinations. One-way fares. (click) gary
Look up and wave!
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: tlw440]
#123566
05/01/2017 09:25 AM
05/01/2017 09:25 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,832 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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I haven't seen anything in the paper recently, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's been resolved. I think the major issue revolved around trips to Sunset Bar and Grill though. Perhaps JD can talk to one of his taxi driver friends to see if they can give an update?
Carol Hill
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#123567
05/01/2017 09:26 AM
05/01/2017 09:26 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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As of now, there is nothing new that I am aware of but I will try to make a call and find out. Since there has been nothing in the paper, I am hoping it has settled down.
J.D.
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Re: Taxi drivers upset
[Re: tlw440]
#123568
05/01/2017 09:27 AM
05/01/2017 09:27 AM
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 17,540 Ohio
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I would not think going to Orient Beach would be a problem as there are always a lot of taxis going to/from there and the pier.
J.D.
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