Anna-Lisa Paul
The T&T Taxi Drivers Network has partnered with TTWeSafe to launch a commuter safety and security app enabling passengers to transmit critical information to emergency contacts during the journey to their destination.
Joining officials yesterday in Port-of-Spain as he demonstrated how it works, co-founder Joel Holder said it had become necessary to provide additional protection for the nation’s women as they access public transport daily.
He said he was galvanized to act following the death of Ashanti Riley in December 2020.
The 18-year-old was last seen on November 29, 2020, as she got into a taxi near her San Juan home and her body was found on December 4, 2020, in a river at Cake Lands, Santa Cruz.
One month later on January 29, Andrea Bharath also disappeared after she got into a taxi to be taken to her home in Arima.
The 23-year-old’s body was found days later at the Heights of Aripo, Arima.
The two deaths led to an outpouring of public support and reinforced calls for a database to be set up for Private Hire (PH) drivers.
Holder said their app would enable commuters to verify the vehicle is a registered taxi even before they enter it.
Once the QR code is scanned by the passenger using his/her phone – the app will automatically notify the passenger’s emergency contact as to the vehicle’s registration number; the driver’s identity; the passenger’s point of entry; safety checkpoints during the journey; and the arrival of the passenger at the final destination.
Additionally, there is a panic button that the passenger can utilize within the app if he/she feels unsafe at any time during the journey.
Working with the T&T Taxi Drivers Network which has approximately 50 taxi associations currently under its belt, Holder said there were more than 200 taxis already registered with TTWeSafe.
While the QR codes are free for the first 500 registered taxi drivers under this partnership, it will cost persons thereafter, $20.
Holder has also appealed to the corporate sector to step up and assist in making this a sustainable venture moving forward.
Praising the initiative which he claimed would afford commuters a greater sense of protection, president of the T&T Taxi Drivers Network, Adrian Acosta was highly critical of PH drivers who continued to enjoy the same benefits as registered taxi drivers but without the expense.
He urged Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan to implement recommendations to better manage taxi stands across the country.
Acosta said, “We also want to send a message that at no point in time, will legitimate taxi drivers support the regularization or legalisation of any PH vehicle.”
“All of us have gone through a process and any PH driver who wants to work taxi can go through the same process.”
