Taxi service providers wants proper regulator

By ZACHERY PER
TAXI service providers in Goroka want a proper regulatory body to control their operation with growing demand for the service in the Eastern Highlands’ capital.
Eastern Highlands Taxi Association chairman Willie Yopa said the Land Transport Board needed to step in and regulate taxi services in Goroka.
“We met on several occasions to discuss issues confronting operation of taxi services in Goroka town,” he said.
“We’ve only got approval from Transport to operate as a trial, which has been going on for four years.
“To date, nothing has been done to properly regulate the operation.
“We followed advice to register an association to get operators to register.”
Yopa said Goroka was a “self-starter” which was now calling for relevant Government agencies to intervene.
“We are now in the middle of establishing our association but we need the intervention of a regulatory body to provide technical support to sustain our taxi services,” he said.
“In Goroka, taxi services are needed as the town is a multi-cultural and growing town with an increasing population.
“We do not want harassment of drivers and passengers by police or members of public, therefore, we need a regulatory body to control taxi services here.”
Some issues highlighted were taxi fares, signs, and parking in town and the airport.
Yopa said the Independent Consumer Competition Commision (ICCC) had approved a flat rate of K10 within town, while going outside was the decision of the client and the taxi operator.