Team Herald
PANJIM: Curtorim Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco met the protesting taxi owners at Azad Maidan, here, on Tuesday, extended his support to them and called on the government to fulfil their demands immediately.
He added that BJP MLAs like Michael Lobo had tried to help the taxi owners but could not succeed because of the BJP government’s stance.
Claiming that it is the local taxi owners that have kept tourists safe, unlike GoaMiles against whom there are various complaints, Reginaldo said the government should support Goans who are in the tourism business.
Adding that taxi drivers are one of the few Goans left in the tourist business as hotels and other businesses are mostly taken over by non-Goans, Reginaldo called on the government to take steps to protect the locals. He recalled that he has always been against GoaMiles.
He also said that the taxi owners had agreed to fix their rates from point to point and during festive seasons.
He said the taxi owners had agreed to follow these rules and that action should be taken against anyone who disobeys this.
He also said criticism against taxi owners about high rates is unfounded and gave the example about how the rates of various commodities and hotel rooms have also increased.
He further added that taxi owners have been around for decades and are a big part of the tourism industry, which was formed to provide livelihood to the locals like the taxi owners.
