Knives seized in taxi ‘war’
(CNS): Following complaints by local taxi drivers that the police have been harassingthem, the RCIPS have not only denied that they have been unreasonable but have expressed serious concerns that drivers have been arming themselves as a result of a growing tension between George Town’s taxi businesses. Superintendent Kurt Walton said that police seized nine weapons from taxi drivers, including a machete and knives, in contravention of the transport law during an operation in November.
The drivers, however, have complained that the police have conducted stop and searches of their vehicles when they were carrying tourists. They have reported that officers were rude and aggressive and had asked passengers to get out of the taxis while they looked for offensive weapons — giving the wrong impression to visitors to the island.
Walton, on the other hand, insisted that his officers were not heavy handed or aggressive in their approach and were doing their job. "I disagree with that. We have taxi drivers who are ambassadors for our country driving around with weapons,” he said.
He added that the officers involved had used discretion when seizing the weapons and had not taken anyone into custody, though they had a right to do so. Walton said that the RCIPS had not yet made any arrests over the knives, even though several drivers had clearly broken the law by carrying them in their cabs.
The operation to stop and search the taxis and seize the knives came after the Public Transport Board had reported concerns about drivers who were fighting, but the reasons were not specified. Walton said police were told by the PTB that it was concerned the dispute had escalated, resulting in drivers arming themselves.
Walton also said that an officer had found a machete in a taxi following a routine traffic stop. That, coupled with the PTB’s concerns, resulted in the stop and search operation which Walton said was aimed at preventing violence. He said that during the operation some eight weapons were found and one cab driver was charged with driving without insurance.
He insisted that the operation was about preventing crime not harassing people, and whatever the taxi drivers’ complaints were regarding the tourists’ impressions of the operation, the idea of a full scale all out fight in the centre of George Town was far more of a concern – something he said his officers had likely averted. The senior officer also said the vast majority of drivers had been very cooperative and the police had succeeded in pushing the message that it is against the law for drivers to carry weapons when driving the taxis.
Walton said he was unable to confirm if there had been any actual fights between drivers reported to the police or if drivers had reported any other incidents of threats against them while doing their job. He said that if the drivers were fearful of being the victims of crime, it would have been more sensible for them to raise their collective concerns with the PTB, which could then have met with police to see how they could be addressed, rather than arming themselves.
CNS has also contacted the PTB to establish the nature of the reported dispute among drivers and is awaiting a response.
Category: Headline News
This is what happened to us during the first weekend of Pirate’s Week: We were double charged **which is against the rules (4 people going within a half mile of each other) $14 and then $17 from the waterfront to Hurley’s. THEN, the next night $67 for five people going from Grand Harbour to West end of Seven Mile beach.
We are being held hostage by (what?!? 150 taxi drivers?) So much for trying to be responsible after having two glasses of wine.
They are licensed THIEVES and NOT ambassadors of our island. It is time for the politicians to give up those few too powerful votes and get some real-world economic pricing for taxis and public transportation.
Lastly, it is time to complain: Public Transport Board Secretary David Dixon said there is something people can do even now if they feel they have been overcharged by a taxi driver. “What we do when we hear of a customer getting overcharged is encourage them to file a report with the Public Transport Board,” he said.
Anyone know HOW to contact David Dixon? I’d love to know, (cannot find on google, govt web sites, or yellow pages)
Forget knives! Search these mini-bus maniacs for driver’s licenses!
Based on how they all drive, I doubt any of them have one of those.
I’ve noticed the 2-dollar buses are the ones that give problems, not so much the taxis.
We were there the last week of September, took a taxi from Georgetown to the Sunshine Suites to visit a friend who works there. The driver said the going rate was $17, he only charged us $15, gave us his card (I wish I still had it), we called him when we wanted to return and he picked us up. A very nice man and I don’t feel we were overcharged.
I have an observation that is perhaps worth mentioning.
As far as I know Detective Supt. Kurt Walton whom I have the greatest respect for, is the officer in charge of the (DTF) Drugs Task Force. I find it rather strange that Supt. Walton would somehow be intrigued to be involved directly/indirectly in the heading/organizing of a search operation for machetes/knifes connected with taxi- bus drivers disputes.
I cannot understand why Commissioner Baines, Chief. Supt Jones or the new guy who apparently took over as Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations ???, would have an officer of Mr. Walton’s calibre involved in this type of operation.This type of operation could clearly be delegated and handled fully by an Inspector or Chief Inspector from George Town Police Station.
It’s seems so counter productive in every sense of the word, to use directly/indirectly a Detective Supt. from the DTF for this type of operation, knowing primarily what he is tasked to do on a daily basis.There are many illegal firearms and drugs on the streets of Cayman and both are being imported everyday.This type of illegal activity requires urgent and constant attention 24/7. Remember, 75-80 % of crimes are related to drugs, which only seems logical that Supt Walton’s attention should not be distracted to taxi and bus drivers disputes/attitudes relating to the amount of passenger fares they receive per day.
Then again, when I was the officer in charge of DTF, they had my staff "babysitting government officials" for almost a year while no serious drug and firearm interdiction took place in the country. I even recall them who were in charge at the time, assigning me to assist in the round up of Jamaicans who had overstayed their visit, while firearm and drug runners were having a field day without the slightest apprehension of the police.
While I fully support the "taxi search" by the police having witnessed some of the aggressive attitude of drivers myself………….and do fully understand that as a police officer one should exercise discretion and flexibilty, those who are in a position to command and lead should not confuse the police organization priorities and responsiblities. Serious criminal activity which pose a clear and present danger to all who live and visit here, should be attacked relentlessly, without officers hands tied behind their backs to do their jobs.
In my opinion, it does not appear that very much has changed in terms of police management and leadership since my 2006 departure. I say this in light of what I see and hear from current police officers on a daily basis.
Thanks Kurt. You know no matter what you do someone is going to have an opinion on it. If someone had gotten hurt, you would have heard that the Police knew about it and did nothing. I’m glad you took action Kurt and it doesn’t matter what section you are attached to, you have a job to fight crime, no matter where it is occuring. Thanks for doing your job and please continue to do so. You and Brad and all the hard working officers that work for you. Most people appreciate it.
What makes these persons so special that after they were found to have broken laws they were not arrested? Okay so the police didn’t want to do so in front of the tourists, i would hope that they have all their contact details and they should have been told to report to the police station within a period of time at which time they would then be arrested, bailed and have to face charges for possession of weapons like anyone else in the country!!!
All this has done is set a precedent and more taxi drivers will do the same if not worse if they know that nothing is going to happen to them. Revoke licenses and black ball these drivers or we will wil face war between rival drivers and innocent bystanders will be caught in the crossfire; too late when it happens! Police do what you have to do!
The long awaited Public Tranportation System need to acted on and lip service need to stop.
One of the items confiscated was a pair of scissors.
The taxi drivers here charge you whatever they want depending on their moods. Not only are the fares not regulated, their driving isn’t either. I took a taxi once awhile back. $20?!?!?!? I bought a Feroza. It cost $20/wk. for fuel. And I was safer.
The rates are set by the government, not the taxis.
whatever
Anyone who would argue that we are not thedescendants of PIRATES obviously hasn’t taken a Taxi in Cayman.
The vast Majority of them are as Crooked as a dogs hind leg.
They are even worse than ‘Blood-sucking’ Lawers
1. "When will we Caymanians do something, talk, turn in the bad guys?"
2. "When will the police start doing their jobs?"
3. "When will the country have security cameras everywhere?"
4. "Why aren’t their more police from the UK/Canada/New Zealand/Australia/Los Angeles/New York etc."
5. "When we were kids, we used to rob people but we did so with paper ninja stars and personal insults. Thus it’s ok to rob people with guns. Just have to educate the criminals etc."
6. "Expats vs Caymanians etc."
7. "Why not have more welfare"
8. "Legalize everything"
9. "Crack down on everything"
10. "Make jail scarier"
11) Poice need to stop giving speeding tickets and catching Drunk drivers and concentate on the "real criminals"
12) Turn to the power of prayer. The greatness of God will solve all problems.
13) (Ex-pat) "That’s it, I’m outta here."
14) (Caymanian) "Don’t let the arplane door hit you in the ass on the way out."
15) It was the PPM/UDP/your grandmother…
Hooray Miss G, you are very correct when you refer to Bermuda as a model public transport system. For some reason however there has been resistance for years, preferring instead to continue to subject the public to this embarrassment we call public transport.
Is this our future? Royal Caribbean and Disney have pulled out of Nassau…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/cruises/cruise-news/6669176/Nassau-crime-wave-hits-cruises.html
..they don’t rip off..come on…I paid from South Sound to Calico Jack’s 72 CI….great deal…the taxi lady told us since it was four of us the fare is times four too…
if you were sober enough , three persons to a fare , as a driver myself i would guess that fare [ 3 persons] would be around 20 ci plus 1/3 equals 26- 28 ci. at least try and get the facts straight and then go to the ptb . not calico jacks.
He said from SS to Calicos, so I’m sure they can’t have been blind drunk yet as they were on their way out.
And obviously you know more than the person it actually happened to.
"as a driver myself" so we can trust you then, LOL
We would not be having this problem if TAXI DRIVERS could conduct there selfs in a professional manner, moreover TAXI DRIVERS put thousands of TOURIST in DANGER by there lack of respect for the Law.
Now that the Law has steped in they are complaining.
Are you serious that our ‘tourism ambassadors’ are being found with illegal, restricted or prohibited items in their vehicles? Now do you have to wonder why our crime rate is up? Did you hear the reason; police are harrassing them????
I am positive that their taxi/bus licenses have been (at the least) suspended pending a proper review by the transportation board & police charges filed for carrying these weapons- RIGHT????
Father in heaven please help us!!
Take away their taxi licenses and allow decent people to operate a new Taxi business. Why are the police tolerating this ? If I bring a machette to work I get fired, so should they.
What an absolute shame! The police are harrassing them?! Rubbish. They just want their way.
Many of them are politically connected and run to the politicians and cry foul when they can’t have their way. While I do not work in the business…I know many of them and are very familiar with and keep up to speed with what is going on in that industry.
The Taxi men and women are ambassadors and all that had weapons should be brought before the PTB for a review or warning of suspension of their license.
The police are doing their job. Given the things that are currently taking place with crime, it does not matter if the Queen was on one of those buses. I strongly suspect they were being rude and uncooperative. Some of these drivers feel that they are above the law.
They have a track record of breaking policies such as: not all go to the taxi dispatch and wait to be called by the port’s taxi dispatchers. They wait on the side of the road…clog up the streets in front of the royal watler and north terminal and solicit business directly to the tourist. They go down the centre lanes on SMB cut in front of traffic, black out dark tint, etc. etc.
I do not know about anyone else but I support the police 100% on this. I would add that while the officers were trying to give a break to the offenders, they should give formal reports with names to the PTB so that these drivers maybe warned.
Finally, I hope this PTB is much more vigilant on doing spot checks on the drivers of taxis as well as the Public buses. Many of the latter, are new Caymanians, straight-up – from Jamaica, and their driving MO, people interaction etc is questionable. I have even heard of some of them renting their buses to work pemit holders to drive at nights etc. This is illegal and wrong. I am glad some attention is being paid to them.
smoke a spliff or take too much conch, get arrested. Carry around a weapon that is used in most murders in Cayman, no problem.
Why don’t the police start by taking weapons from the criminals? Taxi drivers may need protection.
Sorry but driving around with a prhibited weapon without lawful excuse makes you a criminal – and I agree, the police should confiscate the weapons but should also arrest them.
If all of the taxi drivers went on an all out war the Island would be a better place. They’ve been ripping us off for too long and making tourists hate this place with their late night, per person taxi rate!
The whole simple fact is that all you idiots can´t see the police is not stopping who thier suppose to stop. Common disputes between humans are these such as taxi drivers, who have to hustle to convince visitors for them to make a living, and disputes are inevitable. But we all need to be armed with something the way that Cayman is right now. The police say taxi drivers should express thier concerns of being robbed as if they helped Curtis some years ago when the man was robbed and killed for what? I think that if it is something we can legally purchase from the store then we have the right to carry it alone as well as carry it with the intent of protecting ourselves. The police cannot bewhere everyone is and criminals don´t probe victims where police are. Cayman is getting serious and if the police can´t protect you protect yourself.
Awesome, does that mean I can go out drinking with my chainsaw and a molotov cocktail?
Or even fill up one of the those pressurised insecticide sprayers with petrol, pump up add a lighter to the nosel and walk around with a homemade flamethrower, sounds good to me
Haha. I can picture that right now. priceless…
Duh …. the Government sets the prices. All taxi drivers have rate sheets, if you want to see the rates just ask. They charge what the Govt. tells them to charge.
There are many good taxi drivers who actually show the true Cayman to tourists.
Most of the bad ones are not even from here.
Yes they have a rate sheet but what they charge is completely different to what is on the sheet. Coming back to South Sound I pay a different amount every time even from the same place and same number of people. I always question them and they say it X number of miles away, yet when I do it in the car or on the GPS it is much much shorter.
Ask to see a rate sheet some day, I bet they won’t like it.
But you are right that the government allow them to get away with it and charge more for having an extra person with you. This is ridiculous as if it costs any extra other than a very marginal increase in fuel due to weight (but even then we are talking a few cents)
If this is true, the tourists see none of it. The taxi service in Cayman is considered quite good by the international community. If there is a double standard of treatment of passengers (tourists vs residents), then something needs to be done to address it.
Have you ever stopped to think that they might be trying to protect themselves against robbers as the Police obviously are not capable of doing so?
Given that a large percentage of our bus and taxi drivers of Jamaican extraction – has anyone ever taken a taxi or bus in Jamaica?
The erratic and dangerous driving described here by some posters is par for the course over there!
Once you get in and strap on your seat belt, get ready for your life to flash in front of your eyes – and that is just on the way from the airport to your hotel in New Kingston!
The driving behaviour of buses and taxis has been a concern for some time, yet neither the RCIPS not the PTSB does anything about it.
We will soon be just as lawless and corrupt as these drivers’ country of origin!
I am more worried about these crazy drivers killing an innocent person or people on our roads than with them injuring each other.
This goes back to the old problem of not enough Caymanians in tourism. There are too many taxi drivers. Many are notfrom Cayman and have bad attitudes. This is another direct result of giving status grants to Tom Dick and Harry without proper background checks and now it is ruining all areas of Cayman. Some actually try to steal passengers from a fellow driver when the passengers are getting into a taxi. The vast majority of the drivers doing this are not Caymanians. If you think you are being overcharged or you have a bad experience with a driver, take their number and report them to the Public Transport Board. You will be helping yourself and tourism. I have taken many taxis and always stick to the locals because they actually care about their country and will go out of their way to be courteous and efficient. Sorry to keep going back to status grants but we have to remember that this was the start of Cayman’s downfall because it was not done in a proper manner. It was a joke and a terrible shame to give away the country for political gain. Like any other service related job, if you don’t have the right attitude you should not be let loose on the public. The Public Transport Board, or whoever is in charge needs to start taking these criticisms seriously and doing something about those drivers who are ripping people off. Its not going to affect the many decent drivers becasue theyre not doing anythng wrong.
I can’t comment on the nationality, however, the driving I can. Everytime I came to the islands, I hired a taxi. This was enough to scare me from renting a car. But also, because here in the U.S., the steering wheel is on the left, and we drive on opposite sides of the road. The streets on the islands were a little scary also. More specific, coming from the airport to 7 mile, the way the road loops around when you get to West Bay road. Yes, I am on the outside looking in.
Maybe they should be spending more time in george town since a lot of crimes seem to be happening there in daylight hours and less time chasing down taxi’s and causing trouble. This is a disgrace…
NOT SURPRISED that taxi drivers are carrying knives and such. This is an area where the police have been very slack in monitoring. We have Tour busses being operated by drug addicts, high up all day driving tourist 70 miles per hour on west bay road, Scaring the poor people to death,
It is a down right shame. These people are given drug test for a permit, then the test come back positive for drugs, then the applicant drink, vinegar and something called Bissy, and other S%^$ to clear their urine, go back next day and retake the test. Yes, !! urine clear. Go and get High Up because the doctorss who give the test does not say a word, just collect the money and hide the evidence. These same taxi and bus drivers are carrying all kinds of knives, guns, and drugs selling to tourist.
I dont talk anything that I cannot prove. But who can we trust? and what will be done? Nothing. So I say fill in the puzzle and do your job.
MORE, ON NOT SURPRIZED. Why is it that the immigration Department does not take more responsibility in the Police Clerance and Medical certificates of applicants for work permits? . I am incline to think, they either dont care or just cant be bothered. . Ok, listen to this {and I only talk what I know about} We have expatriates operating Tour Busses and Taxis, who give the immigration department a clean police record and clean medical record for work permits. "
Only a week ago I know of persons who took medical and they opened the doctors report, after drugs were found in the test. These seem persons took vinegar, and a powder called bissy, went back to the doctor next day and WHAMMY !! clean urine for the report. Of course very happy, goes out and get High Up all over again and drive tourist like mad men.
Just answer me one question, "Why this medical cannot be faxed to the Immigration Department by the doctors? Some one actually does not care a hoot, that why we can have all kinds, robbing stealing, shooting and so on and we cannot find the slightest link. Wake up Cayman.
I have been involved with tourism for 30 years…and driving taxi for 22 years and I am appalled and ashamed of what is going on In this industry today…to those who say we are parisite and a ripp off…I hope you are saying this base solely on your experience and if so, why don’t you be a good citizen of this country and report such activity…I do know that we have some taxi drivers who are not really ambassador of this Country…why? this is not their home so they don’t care what happens to our tourism here. however on the other hand their are us Caymanians who know that the Cayman Islands was built thorugh, good service (service with a smile), friendly & honest people, helpful and accommodating, kind and caring to our visitors/customers and each other, and we want and trying really hard to continued this tradition…So to all of those who have at some point or the other had a bad experience with the taxi service, whether you think you were given bad service or been rrippp off, I want to apology to you on behalf of the honest, hard working and friendly taxi drivers to you… and should you want to experience this type of service you can e-mail me at kmanlady@yahoo.com . We are not all alike…
WHERE ARE THE METERS? I have yet to understand why taxis in Cayman don’t have meters. It’s a total rip-off. The Premier should insist that meters be installed for them to get a license.
It would be a good idea to publish the rate sheets and the rules for extra passengers, luggage etc. They could be published in the press and displayed inside the taxi.
I am looking forward to seeing the Government implement the long awaited Cayman Island’s Public Transport System.
The Government is looking forward to providing permanent employment to potential bus drivers, supervisors, mechanics and administrative staff; could be more than 25 vacancies in each district, full and part-time.
The Government would of course limit employment to indigenous Caymanians; Mckeeva – I think that a lot of these wonderful hardworking people can drive…! And they would welcome the prospect of a full time permanent job within a Government department, and I think the pension and health insurance would come in handy too.
The Government is excited about the prospect of a Government run transport system that will service the whole of the Island day and night.
The domestic/construction workers on the Island will warmly welcome a regular affordable bus service that will ensure they get to work on time. They would be happy to buy weekly and monthly discounted bus passes if such a service could be provided.
The school bus service could operate out of the district bus depots (built by your wonderful public works department), therefore easing the traffic problems created by parents having to drop their children off at school everyday.
And, you know what, I am sure that office workers, bar staff and tourists would take advantage of the regulated Island wide service also.
The Government needs revenue – I see revenue.
If you need a model – Look at Bermuda.
Forgive me if I have spoken out of turn, but I really do care about Cayman.
Nice idea in theory, but the last thing we need is more civil servants leeching off our earnings.
If you reckon we need 25 people in each district thats over 100 extra civil servants at an average wage of 50K which a Caymanian driver would demand (they wouldn’t get out of bed for the wages the jamaican drivers pull in at the moment) so $5m in extra wages a year to tax the expats and businesses, just so a couple of east enders can have subsidised travel to town.
It is the government’s job to stimulate the economy and help create jobs, but that doesn’t mean they have to employ everybody themselves! they need to incentivise businesses to come here and grow and they won’t do this by increasing prices and fees.
I guess I should think twice about confronting the next taxi to cut me off in traffic or run me off the road. They might be armed as well!!
Taxi driver ‘gangs’! What next?
Walton said that the RCIPS had not yet made any arrests over the knives, even though several drivers had clearly broken the law by carrying them in their cabs.
Selective application or even non application of the Law. The true sign that we are becomming a Banana Republic.
They’re probably fighting over who rips off the most customers. Both sides argue that they are the best conmen!
I’d agree with both sides, they’re highway robbers, no wonder the drink driving problem is so bad!
Aren’t taxes meant to be safer? Its no wonder people get into their cars and drive after drinking (not that I condone it), given the ridiculous cost of the fares, the attitude of the drivers and now they’re carrying machets!
"taxes"? Well with McKeeva as Premier I don’t think "taxes" are safer but maybe TAXIs!
But you knew what the poster meant…. duh
Why is no one arrested if the broke the law? I don’t understand how we in Cayman can continue to let laws just be broken, with no consequences. Moreover, why would taxi drivers be upset if they were stopped for traffic violations and searched? Seems to me they feel they are above the law, but then again everyone from the top down seems to think that in Cayman.
If the laws are being broken from the top down its little wonder no one seems to care when laws are broken!
I was appalled by a taxi driver up West Bay Road on Monday night like it was video game – speeding far in excess of 60mph, overtaking like crazy and, when a car was in the middle lane turning right, even pulling all the way over to the far oncoming traffic lane to overtake.
Whoever owns the taxi registered as XXXXXX should be banned for life and ashamed. CBS please don’t censor attempts to "name and shame" those who risk lives of innocent people.
CNS: How do I know that you are telling the truth, Anonymous?
de-regulate taxi’s now, no minimum fare!… what are you afraid of?
driving people around….. what a fine, proud profession
Our accupations do not make who we are. Some people are willing to do what they have to do to feed their families. What a narrow minded comment!!
Its honest work – much better than armed robbery
I guess you feel the same about your garbage collector. Aren’t you glad that someone does the shite work you won’t!
You should be ashamed of that comment. What do you do for a living? Work in an office an airconditioned office?? Bid deal.
And on that note, I will be tipping by Refuse Collector for Christmas again this year. I’m so glad they do what I wouldn’t want to!
no i don’t feel the same way about garbage collectors, they are honest people doing honest work. Taxi drivers are a legalised cartel that, that feed off a protectionist system. How come tourists cannot take a bus from the airport? why are they forced to pay $30 for a 10 min taxi fare straight away…. nice cayman welcome!
where are their meters and receipts? we would love to have writteen proof of how they rob us…….
taxi drivers… parasites, rip-off merchants, not just in cayman, everywhere
Welcome to Cayman. My name is _________. I am your driver today. Please put on your seat belts. I will be turning on the A/C for your convenience and put on some Caribbean music for your pleasure. The weather outside is 90 degrees F. Do not hesitate to ask me any questions especially about our recent hold-ups, home invasions, shootings, robberies, stabbings, etc. and their picturesque locations. Have a grrrrreeaat ride!!!! Btw, would you like chopped limb with that?