PRIVATE CARS AS TAXIS CORENTYNE HIRE CAR OPERATORS CALL FOR ACTION

Hire car operators serving the New Amsterdam to Corriverton route are calling on authorities to crack down on private vehicle owners who they say are illegally transporting passengers and affecting their livelihoods. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Atherley McDonald, a hire car operator with 15 years of experience, said the issue has become increasingly problematic over the past two to three years. McDonald said licensed hire car operators are required to comply with strict regulations, including restrictions on vehicle tint, music systems and dress code, while also paying road service and other fees. However, he claimed that private vehicle owners are operating freely without meeting the same requirements.