By KEILE CAMPBELL 

Tribune Staff Reporter 

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

TENSIONS flared outside Margaritaville yesterday morning as dozens of angry taxi drivers staged a protest over what they claim is an illegal $20 parking fee, prompting police intervention and renewed calls for government action.

Bahamas Taxi Cab Union (BTCU) President Tyrone Butler said the demonstration was sparked by drivers being charged to access the parking area next to the West Bay Street resort, despite assurances from Margaritaville that the property’s management was not behind the practice.

“The employees of Margaritaville are engaging in this collusion and this game to help this taxi driver collect $20 from taxi drivers just to get a job for Margaritaville,” Mr Butler told The Tribune outside the resort.

He said union representatives met last Thursday with Margaritaville officials and the Road Traffic Department, where the hotel promised to end the practice. But by Sunday morning, a driver was again told to pay the fee and, when he refused, was denied work.

“Margaritaville called the police,” Mr Butler said. “I don’t know if they thought that was supposed to intimidate us, but this union will never be intimidated by anyone.”

He said officers later spoke to both the drivers and Margaritaville’s general manager, who promised to deal with the driver allegedly responsible for collecting the fees.

Margaritaville general manager Shyam Lalu confirmed meeting with the union and officials from Road Traffic, describing it as “very positive and fruitful.” He denied any wrongdoing by the resort or its staff.

“They did make a complaint that somebody was charging them to park in that lot. We don’t have anybody that works for the property, that works for the hotel that is charging anybody, we’re not collecting any funds for anybody to be over there,” Mr Lalu said, calling the person involved a “rogue” actor operating “outside of our control.”

But Mr Butler said the issue points to deeper failures within the Ministry of Transport and the Road Traffic Department.

“There seems to be no law for certain public service drivers in this country. Livery drivers can do what they want, this particular taxi driver seems to do what he wants, what is the reason for having a Road Traffic Department?” he asked, blasting the department as“out to lunch”and saying officials “have no idea what they’re doing.”

He said repeated complaints to Road Traffic and Transport Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis have gone nowhere.

“Nobody in Road Traffic has the backbone or the ability to do anything about anything in this industry,” Mr Butler said, calling engagement with the department“ a waste of time.”

He warned that if no action is taken, the union will return with larger protests.

Mr Butler said the BTCU plans to ramp up demonstrations in the coming months to address what he described as “widespread abuses” against taxi drivers at locations including Lynden Pindling International Airport, Atlantis, and Nassau Cruise Port.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “We’ve been having too many discussions with Road Traffic. The Tourism Minister doesn’t seem to care anymore. We are a civilised country, and we need corporate partners to act civilised. Right now, we don’t see that coming from places like the airport and these other properties.”