Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
WHILE THERE have been crusades and campaigns to clamp down on illegal taxi operations across the country, a trip to Half-Way Tree yesterday afternoon showed the illicit operation still very much alive, even while lawmen patrolled the streets.
Not only do the taxi men operate illegally, they park illegally while soliciting customers.
Yesterday, some 'robots' en route to the Barbican area, were parked at the entrance of the Shell gas station on Eastwood Park Road where the old bus park was located. It is now illegal to park or disembark in that area.
Others were seen in the parking lot of the Pavilion Mall where the sign was clear: 'No taxis at any time.' These were mostly robots that provided charter service.
LAWMEN OBLIVIOUS
It was the same situation of disorder at the Esso Station at the North Odeon Avenue entrance en route to Shortwood. Nearby, three lawmen stood, oblivious to the situation, while conversing with a civilian about the importance of his wisdom tooth.
There were more illegal taxis just outside the Mandela Bus Park too, parked on the sidewalk soliciting customers travelling to Papine, University Hospital and University of the West Indies Mona, campus.
But illegal taxi operation was only one element of the disorder observed.
In the Mandela Bus Park, buses
created chaos for taxi operators and pedestrians, impeding their travel by parking haphazardly. The entrance of the park itself was clogged, but this went unnoticed by three police officers at the exit, who were kept busy by illegal taxi operators en route to New Kingston.
Again on North Odeon Avenue, minibuses parked illegally in spaces provided for JUTC buses only. All this happened while the aforementioned lawmen chattered on about the intricacies of the wisdom tooth.
Pedestrians too walked carelessly across the road, paying little attention to pedestrian signs. These were mainly school children, who by now had taken off their ties and put on their make-up and jewellery.
