Feb. 14, 2003 – The Port Authority has put out a notice reminding taxi and tour operators who are not members of the St. Croix Taxi Association that in order to pick up passengers arriving at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, they must show proof of a prepaid agreement to do so two days before the visitors' arrival.
The V.I. Code states that taxi drivers with a concession agreement at the airport — members of the St. Croix Taxi Association — have the exclusive right to provide public taxicab service from the terminal. The Port Authority announcement issued Thursday said the regulations will be enforced as of Monday.
"Any passenger moved from the airport in a commercially engaged vehicle must evidence a prepaid arrangement for use on non-member taxis," the VIPA statement said.
VIPA's spokeswoman, Monifa Marrero, said on Friday that the regulations are nothing new, but that Port Authority officials had noticed an increase in tour operators and non-member taxis at the airport without the required paperwork. "This is just a reminder; people have not been following the procedures," she said.
Non-member taxi or tour operators must present a prepaid voucher with a list of passengers to the Port Authority airport manager's office for approval 48 hours prior to the scheduled pickup. According to VIPA, an approved voucher is the only documentation acceptable for legally picking up passengers at the airport.
"Violators will be banned from conducting future business at the airport," the VIPA statement said. Marrero said she hopes the announcement "will take care of the problem."
Marrero said vouchers also are required at Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas, but there is a franchise monitor on the airport staff who is charge of handling the paperwork and overseeing compliance with the regulations.
For St. Croix pickups, vouchers may be faxed to 778-1033 or submitted in person at the airport. For more information, call 774-1629.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
