Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
The ‘Price’ of generosity
Generous taxi driver Al Price talks about his experiences while awaiting passengersin Cross Roads. (Photo: Jason Tulloch)
News
December 25, 2021

The ‘Price’ of generosity

Taxi Chronicles

Fierce competition and, in many instances, heavy demand from owners of the motor vehicles being used to offer taxi services have resulted in a general scramble among cab drivers to earn as much as they can.

So when a cabbie who will provide his service without pay, or even accommodates passengers’ requests to take them off his route (referred to as a turn-off and which costs a bit more), it’s kind of rare.

Al Price is one such taxi driver.

Price, who has been operating a taxi for five years, told the Jamaica Observer that once his passengers explain to him that they are short on cash and are unable to pay him, he will not turn them away.

“If yuh come, mi nuh have to really know yuh, and you want a drive, mi will look on yuh and say ‘Weh you a go? and you seh ‘mi bruk’ and yuh ask mi if mi can do it for yuh, mi will do it. That nah tek nothing out of me fi do, you know,” Price said.

“Up to last night [Monday], a youth a go down Maxfield Avenue side seh him nuh have nuh fare. So mi seh ‘Come in, you nuh one regular [customer]?’ Mi nah go hold out on him fi that. Mi know one day him will see mi back and seh ‘See something here.’ Always, from yuh come and mi can do it, mi will do it,” Price said.

“The same youth from last night, is a turn-off him want, enuh because him live a Maxfield Avenue and mi have to turn down Lincoln Road and come back round on Maxfield Avenue. Fi the regular drive a $120 and fi the turn-off, $250. Mi just carry him because mi know if him did have it, him woulda pay mi, because a fi him regular turn-off, so mi sure a that,” Price related.

He is convinced that the generosity he extends to his passengers has resulted in blessings from God, especially because, just before he spoke with the Observer, he was chartered by a woman who paid him more than he would normally have earned for a trip to her destination.

“Mi just come in ’bout half an hour a go and a lady come; a the first mi a see her but she remember me from the days when mi used to run bus from Cross Roads to Waterhouse. When she come now she have a couple boxes and a bag [and] seh she want to go to Tangerine Road. So, me seh Tangerine a outta my routine, enuh. She seh, ‘Come man’. So, mi help her and put the box dem inna di trunk. Me and her deh there and she a remind me of some things, and mi carry her still and she give mi a little extra, ’bout $500. She a ask mi if mi nuh remember her, but mi nuh remember [her] face,” Price said.

“Some people just genuine and like your ways so them will travel with you,” he said, adding that he appreciated the woman’s kindness.

— Candice Haughton

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Snatcha’s ‘My Baby Mother’ strikes a chord with radio DJs at home and abroad
Entertainment, Latest News
Snatcha’s ‘My Baby Mother’ strikes a chord with radio DJs at home and abroad
August 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Reggae singjay Snatcha is celebrating the growing success of his single My Baby Mother , which has been gaining steady traction on...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Priel Morgan chronicles his life experiences on Fall Apart (remix)
Entertainment, Latest News
Priel Morgan chronicles his life experiences on Fall Apart (remix)
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
August 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica  —  In 2024, Priel Morgan, son of veteran reggae singer and Morgan Heritage member Gramps Morgan, released an EP titled Growth . One...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
PNP expresses solidarity with Colombia after earthquake
Latest News, News
PNP expresses solidarity with Colombia after earthquake
August 11, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) has expressed condolences to the Government and people of Colombia following a devastating earth...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
68-y-o St Elizabeth man succumbs after being beaten allegedly by grandson
Latest News, News
68-y-o St Elizabeth man succumbs after being beaten allegedly by grandson
August 11, 2026
ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A 68-year-old man succumbed at hospital a week after he was struck with a piece of board allegedly by his grandson during a fa...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US helicopter fired on ship that tried to break Iran ports blockade
International News, Latest News
US helicopter fired on ship that tried to break Iran ports blockade
August 11, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A United States (US) helicopter on Tuesday fired missiles into the engine room of a Panama-flagged cargo ship that a...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Why the Middle East war still convulses the oil market
International News, Latest News
Why the Middle East war still convulses the oil market
August 11, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) -- After more than five months of conflict, oil markets continue to surge and tumble over the latest developments in t...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Committing to CCJ would be reckless, says Tavares-Finson
Latest News, News
Committing to CCJ would be reckless, says Tavares-Finson
Jamaica Senate President calls on PNP to state position amid reported turmoil at regional court
August 11, 2026
President of the Jamaican Senate, King's Counsel Tom Tavares-Finson says it would be extremely reckless for Jamaica to commit to the Caribbean Court o...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
St James to honour 10 Hurricane Melissa ‘heroes’
Latest News, News
St James to honour 10 Hurricane Melissa ‘heroes’
August 11, 2026
ST JAMES, Jamaica — On Heroes Day, the St James Municipal Corporation will honour 10 individuals for their roles in assisting others during the passag...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct