By: Gavincia Clarke
Nevispages.com
(CHARLESTOWN, NEVIS)- A Taxi Driver on Nevis today, Friday, November 15, 2013 launched a protest against the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) and the state of economy on the island of Nevis. He also used the opportunity to laud the flourishing economy on the sister island of St. Kitts.
The taxi driver claimed, that he was crying out for assistance from the Nevis Island Administration in an effort to boost the tourism industry so that work can be provided for taxi drivers after months of no tourist, no income and little hope.
Today, Hasheem Parris of Pinney’s Road was in Charlestown in the vicinity of the Charlestown pier holding a sign displaying his ‘confidence in the Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas for keeping St. Kitts booming while Nevis is barely holding on’.
According to taxi driver, Hasheem Parris, for the past few months taxi drivers on the island of Nevis have parked their vehicles along the side walk leading to the Samuel Hunkins Drive. This was done with the hope of gaining some sort of business as passengers disembarked the vessels sailing between the waters of St. Kitts and Nevis. Many days he claimed that some drivers return home without having earned a single dollar.
Parris told this media house that the tourist season has already begun and yet there is no work being provided for the local taxi drivers. Parris stated that he can recall that before the CCM administration got into government things were much better in Nevis. Parris said he was making money and was able to pay his bills.
He added that although the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP), during their time in Government, could have done a lot more to improve the tourism industry, he was still able to get jobs and make a living. Parris continued that since the CCM Administration led by Hon. Vance Amory got into government ‘the island is now dead’.
Sidney Jeffers of Craddock Road who is also a taxi driver commented on the state of the economy. Jeffers said that hence the CCM Administration is failing to build up the economy on Nevis so that the taxi drivers can get work, he is calling on the Prime Minister to send work over to Nevis.
Jeffers further stated that a cruise ship came to Nevis on Saturday, November 9, 2013 and what he thought would have been a flourishing day for taxi drivers resulted in another disappointing day. He said taxi vehicles remained parked because the passengers who got off the cruise ship were taken to Double Deuce and Sunshine’s Beach Bar at Pinney’s Beach. Jeffers called the day in question ‘a waste of time’.
Frustrated, Parris indicated that today is Friday which should have been a busy day but is not. He lamented that not one taxi has moved from its station since morning. Parris said no work is coming over from St. Kitts and while the taxi drivers on Nevis stare across the narrows and watch cruise ships sail into St. Kitts harbor, they on Nevis can only hope and wish and cry out to the Prime Minister to send some jobs over to Nevis.
