The suspected murder of a taxi operator in St. Andrew Monday evening has prompted at least one organisation representing cabbies to call a safety-first meeting.

Edgeton Newman, president of the National Association of Taxi Operators (NATO), says his members will meet Sunday at the Ministry of Education's office in Kingston.

"We have been speaking to the taxi operators about getting certain instruments in their units which can assist them when they are in difficulties," Mr. Newman told The Gleaner.

Found dead in car

Mr. Newman said the death of 39-year-old Wayne Ward at Kings Avenue, sparked the meeting. Mr. Ward was found dead in his Toyota Corolla motor car at 8:15 p.m. on Monday.

The police found him slumped in the driver's seat after residents reported hearing an explosion. Police reports are that two men were seen running from the vehicle.

No arrest has been made.

Mr. Ward is the second taxi operator killed in Jamaica this year, and the 95th since 1998. Statistics from the Jamaica Constabulary Force show that 18 cabbies were murdered in 2005, the most during that eight-year period.

According to the police, 15 taxi operators were murdered in 2004 and 1998.