By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

The newly-formed Bahamas Livery Drivers Union (BLDU) last night said it aims to raise standards across the industry.

Taurian Austin, its president, told last night’s inaugural meeting that hundreds of persons have been licensed to operate livery vehicles in recent years and there is now a need for the sector to become organised.

He said: “This is an historic moment. The livery industry has been around for a very long time, but it’s never been unionised, never really been a unity, just a bunch of individuals. Government has granted hundreds of licences over the last few years. More men and women have become entrepreneurs, more businesses are popping up, more people want to get into this industry.

“So we wanted to unite as one and bring it all together under one umbrella. So we can kind of work together as a unit rather than..... you know, there is strength in numbers. And that’s important to come together and work together under the same common goal, but one voice to understand how this industry is.”

Mr Austin explained that there are standard rates for SUVs, limousines, sprinters and town cars, but the union is first concerned with ensuring all drivers deliver a level of service reflective of the prices being charged. He said the union intends to introduce programmes that will improve consumer service and assist drivers in becoming better tourism ambassadors to clients.

He added: “Most of our liveries are pre-arranged transportation. Everyone has their website and, depending on your cars, there’s normally a standard rate for SUV, there’s normally a standard rate for a town car and it’s normally a standard rate for limousine and one for sprinter vans. So we have standard rate.

“One of the things we want to drive home is making sure that our drivers are raising their standards, raising the standards of their service, the way they present themselves and the way they present their products and taking it to the next level to match the prices we are charging. And then we need to retrain and come up with programme that make them better ambassadors in this country.”

Mr Austin said “hundreds” of drivers signed up for the union when it launched yesterday and, once the Board has introduced themselves to members, they will begin the task of standardising the industry.

He said: “We have hundreds of people who are eager and excited. This is actually our first day allowing people to sign up because this is our introduction to the drivers officially, so we’re just getting everything organised.

“On our agenda is first of all to standardise our business, introduce ourselves, come together, so we must first unite, reform and then excel.”