Veteran businessman and president of the Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-Op Society Ltd, Adrian “Smiley” Bailey, has told taxi operators across Barbados they hold the power in their hands as Uber prepares to officially launch its ride-hailing app on the island Wednesday.
Bailey welcomed the government’s move to set clear rules for Uber, stressing that the company can operate only with registered taxis and must follow local fare regulations.
“The Deputy Prime Minister came and she put the position, and she made it clear to the public and the transportation sector that for Uber to operate in Barbados, it has to operate with registered taxis. That position is absolutely clear to the public. It gives taxi operators in Barbados a choice, and the choice is that the taxi operators in Barbados have the power in their hands.”
Bailey insisted that no taxi operator is obliged to sign up with Uber and cautioned drivers to think carefully before committing. “No taxi operator has to join up with Uber to get business,” he declared. “Uber is not bringing any airlift into Barbados. Uber is not bringing any cruise ships into Barbados. So if they’re not bringing anything, tell me the reason why an industry with 4 500 people operating in it, and they are mostly working-class persons, have to go and sign up to Uber.”
The long-standing taxi leader said he had chosen to stay silent on the Uber debate until the government clarified its stance, but he maintained that Uber’s presence would not expand the local transport market. “Uber will be operating off the same amount of arrivals into Barbados and the local Barbadians who use taxis in Barbados,” he said. Drawing a comparison to McDonald’s short-lived franchise in the 1990s, Bailey added, “McDonald’s came into Barbados as a franchise. They opened up their business and within 14 months, McDonald’s closed up and moved on. Barbadians take to the tried and proven. The taxi operators in Barbados have the power in their hands. Nobody — no taxi driver — will be driven or forced by government or any entity to sign with Uber.”
Bailey also accused Uber representatives of approaching drivers directly. “From what I’ve heard, Uber now have their agents on the ground walking around taxi stations or dispatch areas trying to get people’s numbers,” he said. “If we’re going to operate at this level, what’s going to happen to Paramount Taxi Service, to Lyndhurst Taxi Service, to most of the taxi companies in Barbados that have been offering a 24-hour service for the last 40 years? Clearly those businesses will go out of business.”
At the same time, Bailey revealed that the Bridgetown Port Taxi Co-Op will launch its own local taxi app today (Monday), ahead of Uber’s official launch. “The Bridgetown Co-Op will be launching our own taxi app system,” he announced. “There’s been a lot of work done behind the scenes to register and get all the marketing aspects out there. There are over 250 taxi operators who are basically on board with the Co-Op taxi app, which will be launched on Monday, and I want you to make it clear it’s not a knee-jerk reaction to Uber.”
Bailey confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister has agreed to meet with the heads of the various taxi associations today for discussions. “Most of the heads of the organisations are willing to meet down by Pelican [Village], and close to 500 taxi operators were ready to come,” he said. “But I don’t operate at a level where I’m going to shout across Broad Street or to Parliament. The best way to do business is to get the attention of the minister so we can sit down and have a cordial conversation.”
Uber, which is set to go live in Barbados on Wednesday, confirmed that its app will be limited to licensed taxi drivers and will follow the government’s regulated fares. “We can confirm that solely the Uber Taxi product will be available in the app and will be exclusively enabled for licensed taxi drivers,” Uber said in a statement. “Taxi drivers will now be able to benefit from Uber’s technology, as they can use the app to reach more riders while continuing to serve their regular passengers on the streets whenever they wish.”
The company added that any fare differences observed during testing were the result of automatic discounts in the system and assured that drivers would still receive the full regulated rate. (SZB)
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