Seychelles Taxi Operators Association (STOA) annual general meeting |29 March 2022

Past STOA chairperson, Godfrey Bonnelame receiving a token of appreciation from current chairman Frank Kilindo (Photos: Joena Meme)

Illegal transfers remain a frustrating issue for local taxi operators

After years of complaining and providing evidence to the concerned authorities, precisely the Seychelles Licensing Authority (SLA) and the ministry responsible for transport, local taxi operators are still being robbed of their daily bread through illegal transfers by un-authorised individuals, or groups operating mainly at the international airport, and the Inter-Island Quay.

Once again, the issue of illegal transfers was strongly debated yesterday during the Seychelles Taxi Operators Association (STOA) annual general meeting held at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS) auditorium, uniting a disappointingly low number of taxi operators, mainly registered members of the STOA.

The meeting was led by chairman Frank Kilindo, assisted by ordinary member Michael Adela, while in attendance were director general for Destination Planning and Development Paul Lebon, representative of the SLA Prisca Hoareau and representative of the Seychelles Police Force.

According to complaints by the operators, at least one tourism establishment in the country is presently operating more than two courtesy cars to transfer clients, as per the tourism policy on vertical integration.

As a result, taxi operators are being affected, especially in the current difficult times due the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, from which the local tourism industry is recovering.

According to the tourism policy on vertical integration (1.7 – Hotel/Courtesy Cars (Chauffeur-driven) five-star hotels are allowed to have a maximum of two (2) courtesy cars.

It further states that five-star hotels may own a maximum of two (2) courtesy cars for use by the hotels’ clients only as courtesy service (complimentary); in line with specifications set by the Department of Transport; while the hotel shall thus not charge clients for use of these cars.

Illegal transfers by omnibus operators were also brought up at yesterday’s meeting, including overseas booking by international agencies, reducing the opportunities for the taxi operators.

The operators also had the opportunity to learn more on the Lospitalite Campaign, under the brand ‘Lospitalite – Lafyerte Sesel’.

Taxi operations being a tourism and service-oriented industry, they were all encouraged to register and join the campaign which will boost the quality of their interaction with visitors and local clients alike.

Through a presentation by Diana Quatre from the department of tourism, the operators learned on how the campaign would help them to improve, in terms of personal development, including areas such as cleanliness and presentation.

Several amendments to the STOA constitutions were also proposed to the members by Mr Kilindo, including reducing the mandate of an elected executive committee from three to two years, while ending representation of government ministries and departments on the executive committee was also proposed.

The setting up of a council to re-enforce the STOA was also proposed as a way to modernise the function and delivery of the STOA to better fit in the ongoing transformation, and also to stay in line with the re-adjustments and changes within the business.

It is worth noting that despite the effort of the present committee to adopt modern ways and initiatives to face the new challenges of the taxi business, several operators are however stuck in the past, sticking to the old ways of doing things, thus halting the effort being done.

Amendments to the constitution were heavily opposed by some of them, in the attempt to block the various initiatives being taken to modernise the business.

The proposed changes are part of the executive committee – elected in October 2019 – to remedy the long-standing situation where operators had been in limbo, not knowing where to go to voice out their concern, especially regarding their working condition which they said was not getting any better with the increase in illegal activities, involving non-licensed individuals, along with other institutions directly involved in the tourism industry.

Speaking to Seychelles NATION, chairman Kilindo said the present situation is very discouraging, especially when much effort and energy are being put to improve the conditions of the operators.

He explained that he feels such behaviour among the operators are being instigated by some operators who either lack adequate education, or have a well-calculated agenda to sabotage the effort and work of the STOA’s executive committee.

Still at yesterday’s meeting, two of the past STOA chairpersons, namely Davidson Madeleine and Godfrey Bonnelame, were also honoured through a token of appreciation for their past duties and contributions towards leading the association.

Roland Duval