The Ministry of Transport and Housing wishes to update the public on ongoing efforts to end the renting of taxi plates.

Late last year, the Government of The Bahamas confirmed its intention to modernize the transportation sector in the country. A critical component of this goal is to bring long overdue changes to the distribution of taxi plates.

For decades, hundreds of industry participants have been unable to own taxi businesses as licenses have been under the control of a small group of persons; some of whom inherited plates. The Government believes in supporting business ownership and the ability of taxi drivers to own their own businesses.

Against this backdrop, the process has begun for dormant or rented plates to be recalled. It is the Government's policy that re-issued plates must be under the control of the persons who operate the business. The practice of renting taxi plates must end.

Following the conduct of an inventory assessment of taxi plates in New Providence, it was noted that some ninety (90) taxi plates are inactive. The publication of a Public Notice by the Road Traffic Department was a proactive decision to bring order and accountability to the registration and distribution of taxi plates. It should be noted that taxi plates will only be recalled in accordance with the law.

The Ministry of Transport and Housing wishes to advise members of the public, that the lifting of the moratorium on the issuance of new taxi plates was not executed in secret. Consultations were held with numerous stakeholders - including The Bahamas Taxi Cab Union, with a view to achieving the government's goal - the modernization of the transportation sector.