Statement by Honourable Kye Rymer
Minister for Transportation, Works and Utilities
On Taxi & Livery Commission
at the Fifth Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth
House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands

25^th February 2020

Taxi & Livery Commission

Mister Speaker, I am pleased to inform this honourable house that the Taxi and Livery Commission has been making steady progress towards regulating the transportation-for-hire industry since the new Board was appointed in October 2019.

On 17 February, 2020 I appointed Mr. Jevaughn Parsons as Director of the Taxi and Livery Commission who is now on secondment from the Department of Motor Vehicles.  As Director, Mr. Parsons is mandated by law to:

1. implement the decisions of the Board,
2. assist the police in conducting background investigations on all persons applying for a taxi permit,
3. conduct Administrative Hearings for the purpose of making determinations of customers’ complaints,
4. manage the Commission’s Secretariat,
5. be the accounting officer for the Commission,
6. develop and implement internal policies and procedures needed for the function of the Commission,
7. represent the Commission on government committees and at other meetings, and
8. prepare annual reports on the functions of the Commission and the status of services in the industry.

Mister Speaker, the Director will conduct his first Administrative Hearing this week to resolve a number of complaints filed against taxi operators.

Mister Speaker, I also take this opportunity to inform the industry that the Taxi and Livery Inspectors will be armed with the Taxi and Livery Ticket book effective 2 April 2020 which will enable them as Inspectors to be more effective in inspecting and regulating the industry subject to the Taxi and Livery Commission Regulations.

I thank you, Mister Speaker.