Reprieve for displaced Discovery Bay taxi operators

By Lorraine Walker 

   

Relief is coming for displaced St. Ann taxi operators who ply the Discovery Bay to St. Ann's Bay route.

 

The operators withdrew their services two days this week to call for a designated parking area after they were denied access to the Texaco gas station where they had previously been accustomed to parking.

 

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz as well as representatives of the Transport Authority and the Jamaica Constabulary Force met with the taxi operators on Thursday morning and reiterated that they would, by early next week, gain access to an area owned by Discovery Bauxite, formerly Noranda.

 

"So what will happen is that we will get it temporarily and move the people on here next week Tuesday-Wednesday, temporarily, until the proper plan is submitted by the municipal corporation to Noranda," he said. 

 

"There has been some arrangements here, based on discussions that have been ongoing between MP Krystal Lee and Councillor Ricketts and the Transport Authority and the transport operators, that will allow for them to move around in certain designated areas for loading and unloading outside of the land that we are here. The land also has a little slim portion of it which will be used for amenities, bathroom, bus shelters, etc," added the minister.  

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Vaz said work will begin next week to install traffic signals along the Discovery Bay main road. 

 

He said the signals are needed in light of the numerous fatal crashes that occur along that road, and will help regulate the movement of transport operators in and around Discovery Bay.