Taximen protest at Tourism Village
It is known as an oasis of calm and comfortable first world ambiance in what is an otherwise rough and tumble third world city. But in its brief history, the tourism village has been the scene of several dramatic moments…and today was no exception. News 5’s Jacqueline Woods reports.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
This morning tempers flared outside of the Belize Tourism Village as a number of taxi drivers and tour operators were barred from operating on the premises.
Hugh Meighan, Tour Operator
“They setting their laws that we the citizens of this country cannot go in there. All the tourists that come to this country, go with Novelo’s or the taxi drivers in there and they are the security guards don’t even let us go up there. If it is raining out there we can’t even go to shelter. He chase all of us out here, we cannot go beyond the line.”
The men, who are members of the Fort Point Taxi Cooperative Union, usually operate from the street, but say on a normal day, they do not even get five percent of the cruise ship tourists. The Union Secretary, Joseph Saldivar, says this latest move on behalf of the village will surely put them out of business.
Joseph Saldivar, Secretary, Fort Point Taxi Cooperative
“We were able to go at the gate right on that little platform, not inside the tourist village. And as we go on the platform, they would take us out. So we refrain from coming all the way out here because we are not going to make any money, so we go on in back. And when we came this morning that is when they decide that we are going to put up all the barriers. Now we can’t even of on the simple pavement. How are we able to maintain our children, our wife, we have a family.”
The protestors have signed a petition that is requesting a meeting with Tourism Minister Mark Espat to see how the matter can be amicably settled. But no sooner had the ink dried on the paper, the men’s attention was diverted as they saw Minister of State Ainsley Leslie leaving the compound.
(Drivers try to talk to Min. Leslie, but the vehicle drives off)
The Tourism Village is a private establishment owned by Michael Feinstein and managed by Allan Deeks. Deeks told News 5 that only the Belize Cruise Ship Taxi Operators have the exclusive license to conduct business in the village. Deeks says the reason why they chose to deny access to the street operators, is because they not only quarrel among themselves, but also hassle the tourists who don’t even want to go on a tour. The men are also being accused of underselling the operators who have the legal right to work in the village.
Marvin Deras, Tour Guide, Bz. Cruise Ship Taxi Assn.
“Most of the taxi men that are outside on the street, most of them, I am not saying all of them, most of them are not certified by the Belize Tourist Board to operate as tour guides. Under the laws of Belize, I don’t have the exact S.I. number or whatever it is, but under the laws of Belize, nobody who is not a licensed tour guide is to offer themselves or advertise themselves for tours, which makes them a tour operator. And this is what we are fighting, because they don’t have any kind of license to operate and therefore, they can afford to cut their prices rock bottom. We here are paying a tour guide license, some of us are tour operators, who operate under a taxi association and we are paying fees to the tourism village, therefore we cannot compete with them.”
But the street licensed tour guides say it is not fair what the Village has done to them because they too have attended the necessary training offered by B.T.B., paid their fees, but yet cannot operate.
Joseph Saldivar
“We go and take fifty-six hours, six weeks of course. The history of Belize, the history of the Mayas, marine theory, and we take that and get our tour guide license, we pay five hundred dollars for the license and when you get your license you cannot even operate; I don’t understand it.”
Although the protestors had stated they would take their vehicles and block the entrance to the village, that action never materialized and the police did not have to exert any force to maintain law and order. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
News 5 contacted The Director of the Belize Tourism Board, Tracy Taegar, who says everyone in the industry has the right to work and make money…but she firmly believes business must be conducted in an organized manner. Taegar did admit that they have received a number of complaints from cruise ship tourists about the street taxi operators being overly aggressive to the point that they have become uncomfortable with the solicitation. Taegar says she regrets what took place this morning at the tourism village and said the B.T.B. will be meeting with the concerned parties to resolve the issue.
