……..by Audley Phillip
Taxi drivers harassing tourists continues to be our greatest challenge and one of the biggest complaints made by cruise ship visitors to Antigua and Barbuda annually.
Tourists do not like to be continually followed and bombarded non stop by self proclaimed drivers and guides from the moment they depart the ships at Heritage Quay Port in particular. It feels intimidating, frightening and terrifying to them.
Back in 2018, the Tourism Ministry had proposed to work alongside the business owners and operators in Heritage Quay, the vendors, the taxi association and other groups to address this age-old issue but it has gotten worse.
The crisis situation is hurting business prospects for all businesses in Heritage Quay and surrounding areas and the business operators are complaining bitterly. Unknown to many people who might think and assume otherwise, many of the businesses in the Heritage Quay area are struggling to make ends meet. At least 4 or 5 of them have been forced out of business recently because of their ability to pay their rent
The taxi operators are not allowing the tourist to enjoy their shopping experience once they disembark the ships. They are constantly being bombarded with invitations to go on tours or to the beach by taxi drivers, some of whom are not even authorized to be in the Heritage Quay area.
I can understand how eager the taxi drivers are to get business as this is their livelihood but there is an urgent need for proper structures to be put in place so that the whole thing can be properly organized and structured for the long-term benefit of all those involved.
We run the risk of “killing the goose that lays the golden eggs” if we do not quickly address the chaos, turmoil and discord that usually present itself on cruise ship days in Antigua and Barbuda.
Global Ports, the Ministry of Tourism, the police and other stakeholders must step up to the plate and quickly address the concerns of the Heritage Quay businesses whose shops are suffering untold hardships as a result of the disorderly, fractious, rowdy, undisciplined and disorganized situation. Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a great port and a tourist destination is on the line.
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It’s time someone share their observation I visited one of the active beaches would not say which one and a group of young men I talked them beach hyenas harrasing the visitors to buy weed 5 young black men and the way the approach the females in a sexual way was so disrespectful and no security or police around its a sad situation and local beach goers no what’s happening and the sellers also must put their feet down police presence must be obvious because the litter security guards are not respected . Tourism is our daily bread can’t allow these jokers to spoil it
This is a bullshit article!!!
Tourist will shop if they want to whether or not a taxi invites them to a tour. Tourists have options and come to the island already knowing what they are going to do.
Have you done any quantitative research? Where is your data.
Audley Phillip the self proclaimed what ever tf he claims he is, is once again chatting garbage. Make sense for once – will you! JUST TRY OR SHUT UP
FOCUS ON UPDATING YOUR PICTURE, the young picture is not a true representation of your old rusty self.
[They] killed #da_🪿_Goose, that layed the #Golden_🪺_Egg!
Reading this piece reminds me of the SUNDAY EVENINGS….#rush ova yah! #push ova dey, at the DRIVE-IN Cinema Gate, to purchase tickets for the evening shows.
The same would happen at The Deluxe Cinema ticket windows.
This was happening in the 1970’s!
I would observe the same, at the ALP Conventions at places like DUTCHMANS BAY when they began to serve the food!
BTW – Shorry from The Mud was the go to Ticket-Master in those days and he was worth his commission.
Now Back to life!
Back to reality!
The question begs – have we went backwards MENTALLY (dawg nyam dawg), or is it the Nature, of Our Culture, to some degree?
#KICK EEN SHE BAK DOH!
#RUSH! RUSH! RUSH! Rush ova yah
PUSH DEM DUNG!
#NEXT_LEVEL 👀 where are you?
We MUST #LEVEL_UP and push up the STANDARD of COURTESY!
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De’ole Dutty Peg 👣Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Best yall just shut the hell up if you don’t know what to say or post cause I don’t understand wha kinda of shitty article is this. Go n look for the robbery’s n thieves that’s killing poor people n the wicked ministers that’s targeting poor people
I guess this is a free country and everyone has a right to complain and express their opinions in the way that they choose. I tend to agree with the opinion that incidents and complaints must be fact driven and there must be a way of checking the number of incidents of this nature. We do have a tendency to lament and complain to the press and media first as opposed to the relevant authorities on these matters.
I was there and I agree. I was ashamed, embarrassed and angry at what I saw. Happy you brought that to light.
It will now be required that you are given a class in customer service before you can begin any business or direct interaction with tourist.
I know you guys need to make the money but we can do it honestly, fairly and in a respectable manner.
Thank you writer.
Beat the messenger and overlook the message. I confirmed that a meeting was held only recently between Global Ports Limited and all the business operators of Heritage Quay plus other stake holders in order to address this very issue.
I hope these taxi drivers harassing doesn’t cause the loss of cruise lines,
as previously happened with carnival cruise and we still paying the Price.
Taxi Drivers fight’s and blocking business front is definitely effecting our business.
Come to Heritage Quay on cruise ship day.
Witness it for yourself.
8 am to 12 Pm.
@ Audley Phillip: It is always good to highlight a problem but a problem without a proposed solution still remains a problem.
On the other hand, what the taxi men are doing is our culture. The problem exists only if they get extremely aggressive with the tourists.
In Barbados & perhaps other jurisdictions, bus drivers at the bus stations tend to do the very same. It works for them why cant it work for us?
@where is the data
The cruise ships have been providing this feedback from their customer surveys for years.
https://adventureantigua.com/cruise-executives-tell-antigua-whats-wrong-with-us/
@wheres the data
Also https://antiguaobserver.com/editorial-a-wake-up-call-for-rudeness/
(1) the lack of enforcement in this area has led to this present problem.
(2) issuing so many taxi permit to persons without them having a base to work from.
(3) playing politics with the taxi business.
(4) too many unauthorized taxi drivers operating within heritage, which has laws against soliciting.
Been coming to Antigua for 39 years. Many of my friends are taxi drivers, but they should not have access to visitors in front of businesses period. Years ago they were set up outside Heritage Quay, now they migrate and hassle people down to the ships.
We can do better Antigua!
Audley…Thanks for exhibiting the courage to highlight a matter of national and economical importance to all the stakeholders. We tend to discuss these matters in hushed tones and behind closed doors. You are absolutely 100% correct. As a keen observer myself I can attest to the disgraceful and despicable behaviour of too many of these taxi operators. It is shameful on too many occasions and threatens livelihoods of many. Those who pelt stones at you are probably the ones whom are involved!!
At the airport the security is strict, the police is present and no one can just go their with their permit and solicit, why can’t we have proper security at the quay and police to regulate the unauthorized taxi drivers if they are not there then it wouldn’t look so chaotic.
I honestly tried to understand what you wrote. Not being offensive as I am sure you were trying to say something important.
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