by Brian Major
Last updated: 7:25 PM ET, Fri May 31, 2019
With visitor arrivals growing in transportation-challenged Bermuda, the territory's minister of tourism this week announced his plan to issue new permits to fledgling operators to establish taxi services covering the late afternoon and overnight hours.
Zane DeSilva, the territory's minister of tourism and transport, said obtaining reliable late afternoon and overnight taxi service is "one of the main issues of concern for many members of the public and our visitors."
DeSilva said special taxi permits will soon be made available for public purchase. "This is the quickest and most efficient way to get more taxis on the road to provide transportation during our busy tourist season," he said.
Data from four services for dispatching taxis and limos in Bermuda, coupled with "feedback from tourism stakeholders and the general public," enabled the Ministry to "identify critical times and locations when locals and tourists are unable to secure transportation," DeSilva said.
Transportation has historically been problematic during Bermuda's peak tourism season between May and October, as locals and visitors compete for strained public and private transportation resources. The availability of off-peak service has also emerged as a concern.
Speaking at House of Assembly legislative session on May 24, at which he presented the government's Transport Green Paper, DeSilva said he will issue an initial 20 permits to first-time taxi owners "to fill the gap in taxi service levels" between 3 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The minister will review the industry "on a regular basis" to determine if the additional permits are required, he said. "Under the Motor Taxi Act 1970 I have the authority to grant up to 88 special taxi permits, and I plan to exercise this law," said DeSilva, in a Bermuda Royal Gazette report.
Bermuda's Transport Green Paper highlights "the challenges faced by residents, visitors, students, businesses, the working population and persons who are differently abled as they travel around the island" and "provides context for the issues raised and lays out the public's thoughts and comments regarding possible solutions," according to government officials.
DeSilva consulted current Bermuda taxi drivers regarding his plan, reporting "robust conversations" with some saying the new service would prove superfluous and others saying it's overdue. He decided to "issue 20 and then we will monitor and we'll assess and then we will make decisions going forward."
DeSilva added there are also "challenges" with the island's bus service, and the Department of Transport is preparing a request for proposals for a new fleet. In the interim, the ministry will increase the maximum number of minibuses allowed to operate to 180, adding an additional 6,000 seats. Twenty of the new minibuses will be wheelchair-accessible.
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