By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

EXUMA residents are bracing for a challenging holiday season after Sandals’ closure in August.

Among those affected are taxicab drivers, who are facing stiff competition from the rise of Airbnbs, which sometimes involve car rentals directly to guests at the airport.

Alston Rolle, president of the Taxicab Association, expressed frustration over this growing practice, which is cutting into drivers’ share of the transportation business and threatening their livelihood.

“Because of these Airbnbs with rentals, you can’t get anything,” he said. “When the plane comes full, one cab moves. Sometimes, two or three days, you don’t get a job.”

“Right now, Air Canada comes once a week, and it brings a little boost. But now, the Airbnbs are just causing a problem for the cabs. The Airbnbs are renting cars and bringing them to the airport.”

“We think Airbnbs with rentals should not allow the cars to come to the airport to pick up their guests.”

“Let the taxi bring the guests to the Airbnb, and then they get their rental cars from there. That will be a big boost for the cab drivers.”

Since Sandals’ closure, visitors have made arrangements with Airbnb operators and homeowners for car rentals and pick-ups at the airport.

There are some 113 registered taxicabs on the island; however, according to Mr Rolle, only 65 are operating on the road. About 45 to 50 come under the Taxicab Association, while the others are independent.

“Taxi drivers are having a rough time,” he said.

Mr Rolle revealed that the association has taken steps to support its members during these challenging times, including providing financial bonuses.

“When Sandals closed, we had almost 50 cabs under the association, and we decided to give a $500 bonus in everybody’s paycheck,” he said. “Come Christmas, I will give back an amount from their dues because everybody has things to do and kids away in school.”

Mr Rolle said Airbnbs are the main concern for cab drivers in Exuma.

Straw vendors are also feeling the pinch, with Princess McKenzie of the Straw Market Association reporting that business has been slow.

“One day last week, I went home with nothing,” she said, adding that they are expecting some guests to come for the Thanksgiving holiday.

When Sandals was open, Ms McKenzie said every Friday, a few straw vendors would go there. 

“Although Sandals closed, we still got to come out,” she said.

“We have 14 straw vendors in the market here, and we were not feeling it even when Sandals was open. We still have tourists coming, but we just don’t depend on Sandals.”

“It could be better, especially leading up to the holiday when we look forward to getting stuff and taking care of their families,” she said.

Meanwhile, Joan Rolle, a resident and community advocate, expressed strong disappointment over the state of Exuma, particularly with public infrastructure such as the airport and public dock.

“Exuma is falling apart. We are suffering on the Family Islands,” she said, highlighting such issues as a lack of a fire engine, inadequate medical services, and poor public facilities.

She voiced frustration over the high cost of food. “You go to the food store where you have to pay $7 to 9 for eggs,” she said.

Ms Rolle, who created the Facebook page Let’s Fix Exuma, said the island is neglected and “Exuma is filthy.”

“Don’t talk about no Christmas spirit, don’t talk about no Thanksgiving spirit, Family Island people are suffering. Our verges have not been cut in years,” she said.

“We have a mini hospital. If you broke your wrist in Exuma, they can’t do nothing for you. They have to ship you out to Nassau.”

“We have an airport in Exuma; sometimes it don’t even have toilet tissue in it. We don’t even have a parking lot. Government talked about $99m to give us an airport, and we still don’t have an airport in Exuma. They have public restrooms on the dock that they don’t fix, and they close it up. And you have tourists pissing on the back of the building because they can’t get into the restrooms.”

“No, we don’t feel no Christmas spirit.”