Senate Vice President Kenneth L. Gittens, in collaboration with other members of the 36th Legislature, hosted a well-attended Taxi Industry Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday to begin a conversation about reforming and revitalizing the local transportation industry in light of increased demand from cruise ship passengers and the local community.
“This town hall was an important step in hearing directly from those on the ground, our drivers, about how we can strengthen this vital industry,” said Senate Vice President Gittens.
Common themes raised by taxi operators included:
The need for an organized, central dispatch system
Concerns about safety during evening hours
Poor road conditions on certain routes
The lack of standardized fare schedules
Need for greater enforcement
Delays in certification after customer service training
Aging workforce and lack of new recruits
Inadequate public transportation, including VITRAN’s reliability
One seasoned driver, Mr. Derick Depot, shared his positive experience running a dispatch center on St. Croix for 20 years and strongly advocated returning to a similar model.
The meeting drew nearly three dozen taxi operators from across St. Croix, including members of three established organizations representing the airport, downtown Christiansted, and limousine services. Also present were representatives from the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of Licensing & Consumer Affairs (DLCA), and the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA). The Assistant Commissioner of Tourism, who also serves on the Taxi Cab Commission, joined the discussion to hear firsthand the concerns and ideas from the operators.
The goal of the town hall was to assess the taxi industry’s capacity to meet increased cruise ship demands on the island of St. Croix, ensure adequate service for residents, especially during evening and non-peak hours, and identify systemic challenges facing operators. Senators encouraged open-minded discussion and active participation from all in attendance.
Senate Majority Leader Kurt A. Vialet shared insights into legislation he previously introduced requiring businesses to accept at least two forms of payment.
“At first, some businesses resisted the idea,” Senator Vialet recalled. “But now, one of the same business owners who opposed it actually saw me and said, ‘Thank you, Senator – this was one of the best things that could’ve happened for my business.’”
Senator Novelle E. Francis highlighted the $5 million appropriation toward the Frederiksted Revitalization Project, in partnership with Royal Caribbean, and reiterated the importance of industry organization, uniform standards, and a dispatch system.
A notable discussion point included the proposal by Mr. Clyde Daisley, who introduced a conceptual rideshare app tailored to the U.S. Virgin Islands. While not yet a legalized entity, he emphasized the app’s potential to complement the taxi industry, not compete with it, and expressed his commitment to engaging further with operators and government stakeholders.
“I’m not here to take away from this industry,” said Mr. Daisley. “I’m here to explore how we can enhance the experience for both residents and visitors using data and technology that supports what taxi operators already do well.”
Senators Marise James, Franklin Johnson, Clifford Joseph, Hubert Frederick, Senate Secretary Avery Lewis, and Senator-at-Large Angel Bolques Jr. also contributed to the discussion.
Senator Gittens said similar town hall meetings will be held on St. Thomas and St. John, but that the need was most pressing on St. Croix.
“We have an opportunity to really develop our tourism product, and taxi drivers are integral to that,” he said.
