With Anguilla being a high-end tourist destination, with all of its ancillary services focused on a matching upward trend, the island’s more than 70 taxi-drivers have not only undertaken to form themselves into a disciplined and professional Association. Many of them have currently gone a step further in attiring themselves in bright uniforms showcasing the national colours of Anguilla as seen in the official flag, shield and coat of arms. Their names are also attractively printed on their shirts just below the national crest or emblem. The hope is that the others will join them later on.
The uniform was commissioned on Monday, February 3, when a representative group of the taxi-drivers turned up for duty just outside the ferry terminal. There, they were addressed, during a brief welcome ceremony, by the President of the Anguilla Taxi Association, Mr. Wilmoth Hodge.
Speaking to The Anguillian newspaper, the leading tax-driver, who is a Methodist Minister-in-training, said: “Today we are launching the Anguilla Taxi Association uniform. It has been long in coming but we are grateful that we have been able to procure a uniform for the taxi-driving fraternity in Anguilla. As you can see, our colours are orange. We also have a white official shirt and we have created an emblem, crest or logo that fits on the left side of the shirt.
“We are hoping that with this uniform we can begin to look at areas where we can become more professional – not only in how we look –but also in our attitude and conduct at the port and other places where we operate. So it is a good day for the Anguilla Taxi Association. There are some taxi-drivers who have not yet procured their uniform, but that will happen in due course – and we look forward to that.”
Commenting further on the colours of the uniform, Mr. Hodge explained: “White is also part of the Anguilla colours. You have turquoise blue, orange and white. We did not go with the blue at this time but we have the orange and the white. Both colours are part of our uniform. The mark on the uniform is really the crest that differentiates us from other persons who wear orange or white.”
He said that while there were over 70 taxi-drivers in Anguilla, the registration of members of the Association in good standing was still in progress. He hopes that eventually all of them would be registered. Working with him as Vice President of the Association is Duncan (Billy) Romney; the Secretary is Kitch Connor; and the Treasurer is Wilkin (Chin-Chin) Harrigan – and there are also a number of nominated members.
Asked about regulations governing the Association, President Wilmoth Hodge replied: “We have rules that have not been commissioned right now – because we are waiting on legislation from the Government of Anguilla which have been coming for sometime but have not been received as yet. The Ministry of Communications is responsible for transportation in Anguilla and the Minister is Mr. Curtis Richardson.
“We are waiting on the legislation so that we can roll out the rules and regulations that govern the Taxi Association. We function at the different ports in Anguilla – the sea ports as well as the airport. There are also regulations at the ports that have to do with our conduct there. Other than that, taxi-divers also function at hotels etc. There is a code of ethics that is part of our constitution which we have to abide with as well but, as I said, the legislation to make sure that we can enforce those rules lawfully is still coming.”
Minister Curtis Richardson and Mr. Cardigan Connor, Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, were not at the launching of the taxi-drivers’ uniform as they were at an emergency meeting of the Executive Council.
However, Mr. Colwayne Pickering, the Assistant Marketing Manager of the Anguilla Tourist Board, and two of his colleagues were present. He undertook to address the taxi-drivers briefly. He said it was heartening that the Anguilla Taxi Association “had finally come to what it should be because, when we look at every other destination and advancing and enhancing our tourism, it means that everyone involved in all levels and aspects of tourism, need to come together to make it what it should be.”
Mr. Pickering added: “It is very good to see that the Taxi Association is coming of age. It is great to see you coming together following the Excel Tourism training we had last year. It is a testament that you are willing and prepared to move to the next level.”
