No Taxi Exams in Five Years - Dysfunctional Board, Lack of Funds Blamed

During Friday’s townhall meeting on St. Croix for stakeholders in the taxi industry, the lack of testing to certify new drivers was highlighted as a major issue preventing new operators from joining the ranks of taxi operators on the Big Island.

In his remarks to lawmakers on the Senate Committee on Government Operations, Veteran Affairs and Consumer Protection, taxi operator Edwin Stephen noted that no exams had been administered in over five years.

“With the government not issuing the test for examination, we kind of feel they’re sort of sabotaging, especially when it comes to the cruise lines,” he stated emphatically. An influx of eager new drivers remains at arms length, unable to become certified as taxi operators because “nobody can tell us when they’re going to have the tests or when the examination is going to be given,” Mr. Stephen complained.

Samuel Ferdinand, another taxi operator, said that interest in joining the sector was high, but concurred with Mr. Stephen that the lack of testing was a major barrier. “There’s so many people out there who would like to drive taxi but don’t have the opportunity,” he noted.