PTU denies taxi tensions

(CNS): Following recent reports regarding tensions among local taxi and bus drivers and the seizure of several knives by the police, the director of the Public Transport Unit has denied that the unit had reported any particular concerns to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) about drivers carrying weapons in public buses and taxis. Durk Banks told CNS that he believed the police had carried out the stop and search initiative on West Bay Road in November because officers had turned up a weapon on a routine traffic stop.

However, Police had previously said that they had instigated the special operation not only because they had seized a machete from a taxi driver who was pulled over for a traffic violation but because they had heard from the PTU  that the buses and taxis were involved in an unspecified dispute that had escalated, resulting in drivers arming themselves. 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.

In the wake of information from the police about the dispute between drivers, CNS contacted the PTU, and the director responded with a brief statement denying knowledge of any specific dispute.

"While the Public Transport Unit works closely with the RCIPS and is in support of measures taken to combat crime, the PTU is not aware of any tensions between the taxi drivers, which caused the police to be concerned and seize knives,” Banks stated. “The stop and search operation, which was conducted by the RCIPS, came about as a result of a routine stop on one taxi, the owner of which was found to be in possession of a weapon."

Responding to the apparent difference of opinion, a police spokesperson told CNS, “There is evident confusion between the parties involved in this matter. Therefore, before we make any further comment we will be seeking a meeting with the PTU to discuss the issue at the earliest opportunity."

After the stop and search operation, a number of drivers had complained that the police conducted the stop and searches when they were carrying tourists, and that officers were rude and aggressive to the passengers as well as to the drivers, giving the wrong impression to visitors to the islands.

Walton insisted that his officers were not heavy handed or aggressive in their approach and were doing their job. "I disagree with that,” he said. “We have taxi drivers who are ambassadors for our country driving around with weapons.”  

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. He did say, however, that one driver was charged for 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 itis against the law for drivers to carry weapons when driving the taxis.