Belmopan Council Faces Challenges as Illegal Taxi Drivers Defy Trade License Rules

The Belmopan City Council’s authority is challenged by drivers who willfully circumvent trade license requirements, undermining the legal system and public trust. This crisis of legitimacy creates a palpable sense of injustice for licensed drivers who dutifully follow the rules. Ljay Wade has more.

Ljay Wade, Love News: “The capital city of Belmopan has an illegal taxi situation. The problem started a few years ago but as of recently there’s been an increase in the amount of illegal taxes operating in Belmopan. While consumers may not be able to tell what taxes are legit and allowed to operate in Belmopan, according to the legal operators, it’s easy. Just be on the lookout for their green city-regulated license plates and run away from persons with white license plates.”

Livanio Rash, President, Capital Taxi Association: “Whenever these persons they are operating with white plates they do affect our business as well but commuters should know that it is also not safe for them because their insurance is different. It doesn’t cover passengers as how a taxi would cover them. So there are a couple of things there and obviously as some of these people whenever they operate, we have had situations here in our parking area. They use white leads, they come in, they are able to park right between us because not able to ask them to be removed because of the private plates obviously they can park anywhere and then some of them tend to, whenever we ask them, “Hey, you know, you can be doing that.” they get boisterous, some of them have a richer point of getting, I would say, a little bit violent because we tell them those things. So it does affect, it affects us business-wise, you know, and also it is not too good for the community especially those travelling. In case something happens insurance covers differently when it comes to taxes and their commuters.” 

Ljay Wade, Love News: “So what has fueled the rise of illegal taxi operators in Belmopan ? According to officials, the issue stems largely from trade license requirements. Licensed taxi drivers in the capital must obtain and maintain a trade license to operate legally. But some drivers who are unwilling to pay the required fees have surrendered their green taxi plates and continue to operate illegally, posing as legitimate taxes.”

Livanio Rash, President, Capital Taxi Association: “It’s not really fair because we as legal operators we do have to pay a trade license every year. That is $240 we have to pay coming December right here. So a lot of these people that are running taxis with private vehicles were taxi drivers before but whenever the trade license was implemented, a lot of them gave up their plates so that they don’t have to pay the trade license and they still keep operating because obviously they have customers, they have people that have used them before so they know them as taxi drivers.”

Ljay Wade, Love News: “So it’s not new people, it’s the same faces that have been around just don’t want to  pay the trade license.”

Livanio Rash, President, Capital Taxi Association: “Exactly, so that’s the situation. That is what is when the trade license came into effect, so this is where this got worse. There were already a couple of people doing that around you know, obviously they would move around just with the vehicle without the license plate, you know without any plates on it but now obviously traffic is around so they’re checking everybody should have plates but because they are known as taxi drivers so that is how they’re able to operate still.”

Ljay Wade, Love News: “The Belmopan City Council says that they are aware of the situation and are planning to implement solutions in the near future to limit the amount of illegal taxes operating in the capital.” 

Pablo Cawich, Mayor of Belmopan City: “We are we’re utilizing two approaches we are presently about to implement a new traffic system, a traffic management which is going to be more digital or electronic. This will cause a replacement of the sticker approach to a QR code on a PVC plastic. That is going to be mounted onto your vehicle where we would just then scan the QR code and in the new system it’s going to pull up a dashboard that would show all validity or would also look up any invalidities on your assignment. Step one of the approaches we’re going to also implement is that with this new year that is about to start along with your trade license, taxis are going to get a sticker, a numeric sticker for their door. This is going to allow us to visually see that they have been processed through the system for this year and are operating legally by just that visual number on the outside.” 

Ljay Wade, Love News: “So if you’re planning to visit the capital and catch a taxi, remember, only operators with green license plates are legal.”