Taxi drivers are fed up and are making it known. For months, their requests to improve their working conditions have not found a response from the government and they are growing impatient. Regulation of licenses, reserved parking zone, pirate taxis, if these issues are not addressed by the government, the unions say they are ready to take action.
On the Papeete seafront at the Vaima center, in the lane reserved for taxis, a motorist parks with the warnings on in the middle of the two lines of taxis.
A prohibited and recurring situation which prevents taxi drivers from working properly. “What we would like is for them to give us a forbidden sense “except taxi” [pour] let it be reserved for taxis, like that one day [d’arrivée de] boats, there are 3 lines, that is to say that even cars could not enter. There were barriers before, we removed them.” deplores Bob Carpentier, technical advisor to taxi unions.
But for the unions, the biggest difficulty remains the allocation of too many taxi licenses in recent years, a relaxation of the rules by Moetai Brotherson. After the covid crisis, 65 licenses were distributed to bring the number of active taxis to more than 160, which does not correspond to the demand at fenua according to Bob Carpentier, for whom “we must regulate”, i.e. -say “that there be a quota like in the 80s, or even before. Or a regulation that is to say that if one day we reach the 600,000 tourists that the president [du Pays] wish. At that point of course we will have to double the number of taxis. But here we are saturated. If it’s to give 100 licenses and there are 10 working and 90 poor, it’s not worth it either.”he insists.
If discussions do not resume and nothing changes, the unions say they are ready to take action. “For the start of the school year in January, unfortunately if the minister does not receive us, we will carry out an operation on the road. If they want a show of force, it is unfortunate because it will annoy everyone but we are just asking to be received and heard, that’s all I think that they themselves during our last interview with the government, they told us that we were right.specifies Bob Carpentier.
In 2019, a bill to regulate tourist transport was created, 4 years later, it is at a standstill.
Jules Bourgat’s report:
**Analyzing the perspectives shared in Section 2: License Allocation, what are the potential economic ramifications of issuing a large number of taxi licenses according to both the taxi drivers’ union and the government?**
## World Today News: Taxi Drivers Cry Foul
**Interviewer:** Welcome to World Today News. Today we’re joined by [Guest 1 Name], representing the taxi drivers’ union, and [Guest 2 Name], who represents the government’s transportation department. We’ll be discussing the ongoing struggle taxi drivers face in [City/Region name] and potential solutions.
**Section 1: Working Conditions**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 1 Name], the article describes growing frustration among taxi drivers. Could you elaborate on the issues impacting your daily work? What specific changes would improve your working conditions?
**Interviewer:** [Guest 2 Name], the taxi drivers are calling for “regulated licenses” and specific changes to parking regulations. What is the government’s position on these requests?
**Section 2: License Allocation**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 1 Name], the article mentions a significant increase in taxi licenses issued recently. How has this surge in licenses affected the taxi market?
**Interviewer:** [Guest 2 Name], the taxi union claims the increase in licenses has led to oversaturation. How does the government respond to this claim? What factors were considered when deciding to issue additional licenses?
**Section 3: Potential Solutions and Future Actions**
**Interviewer:** [Guest 1 Name], you’ve mentioned the possibility of taking action if discussions with the government do not yield results. Can you elaborate on the nature of these potential actions? What are your ultimate goals?
**Interviewer:** [Guest 2 Name], what steps is the government taking to address the concerns raised by the taxi drivers? Is there a timeline for resolving these issues?
**Section 4: The Bigger Picture**
**Interviewer:** This situation raises broader questions about regulating transportation services and ensuring fair competition in a constantly changing market. How can the government strike a balance between promoting economic growth and protecting the livelihoods of existing drivers?
**Interviewer:** Thank you both for sharing your insights. This is clearly a complex issue with no easy solutions. We encourage continued dialog and collaboration between the taxi drivers and the government to find a sustainable and equitable path forward .
**Notes:**
* This interview structure allows for both guests to respond to the same questions, fostering direct dialog and potentially revealing different perspectives.
* Open-ended questions encourage deeper discussion and exploration of the complexities surrounding taxi driver concerns.
* The interviewer can adapt the questions based on the guests’ responses, ensuring a dynamic and engaging conversation.
