About three dozen taxi drivers met on Friday, October 8th, in the conference room at Government Headquarters to be advised by personnel from the Ministry of Health as regards the mode of carrying out taxi services in this Covid-19 pandemic era. Apart from those in the conference room, viewing the instructions via video feed, there were other taxi drivers and ground handlers who viewed virtually.
Particular health protocols were emphasised and the taxi drivers were admonished to follow them carefully in order to maintain their own health and to secure the health of their passengers.
President of the Anguilla Taxi Association, Mr. Wilmoth Hodge, moderated the training session, and was on hand to give The Anguillian a synopsis of the training effort. He explained: “Today we are conducting re-certification training for taxi drivers and ground operators. The certification that they gained last year will expire on November 1st. They are required, therefore, to refresh their training in order to be certified for another year.
“Certification this year is very essential, as the taxi drivers learn how to counteract the presence of the Covid virus that is around us at this time. All of the training today is, in fact, related to the Covid situation. Since they are already certified, it is very important that they pay specific attention to maintaining their health and safety and the health of our guests in light of the Covid reality.”
The training was conducted under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the Anguilla Health Authority. The prime facilitator was Nurse Diana Claxton-Carty, of the Health Authority of Anguilla, who was quite professional in delivering timely instructions on caring for the guests and the handling of their luggage from the point of pick up at the ports, while on their journey to the hotels or villas, and upon reaching their destinations.
Hodge
Many interesting questions were asked by the taxi folk, both from the conference room and the virtual audience. One such question had to do with the comfort of the guests. A taxi driver asked if it was more advisable to transport his passengers with air conditioning – or with windows open for full ventilation. The facilitator answered that it was best to have the windows opened for proper ventilation as the virus thrives in cool environs, and cold dry air spreads respiratory viruses. However, she said, as an exception, the airco should be on if it is raining.
There was some degree of contention on this point, as some taxi drivers claimed that hotel managers are adamant that their guests travel in luxury and are as comfortable as possible while on their journeys to and from the hotels. “Since open ventilation is best,” one driver contended, “it should be required that the Ministry of Health insists on this best practice to hotel management, instead of the taxi drivers being victimised or criticised by the hotels if they drive with open windows, without air conditioning.”
Overall, the session was a great success and the President, Mr. Hodge, was quite pleased with the turnout. He said: “We are looking forward to the season that is coming up. I hope and pray that everyone will follow the protocols, that they would put into practice what they learn today, and keep safe.”
