Transport boss bemoans ‘open season’ on taxi drivers after 58 killed in 2022
Egeton Newman, president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services, is beginning to believe that “open season” has been declared by gunmen on the lives of taxi drivers in the island.
“Fifty-eight taxi drivers were killed last year. It’s like open season on taxi drivers as it seems like we’re under heavy attack from every side, from the government and from gunmen. Places like downtown Kingston, Seaview Gardens, Gregory Park and Greater Portmore, and Waterhouse, are killing fields for taximen,” Newman told OBSERVER ONLINE.
“But we’re not giving up, several died last year, but we have to keep going on. One was killed on Wednesday and one committed suicide the day before, it’s tough. The transport sector is under siege.”
Police are currently investigating the murder of 32-year-old taxi operator Javon Ferguson who was discovered slumped over the steering wheel of his taxi along a roadway in Seaview Gardens, in St Andrew on Wednesday.
He was shot in the head.
Ferguson is the third taxi operator to be killed in Seaview Gardens in a six-month period. In July 2022, two taxi operators were killed in Seaview Gardens. One, 61-year-old Paul ‘Tony’ Allen was shot and killed on July 6 along Red Sea Drive in the community.
Three days later on July 9, taxi operator Dwayne Coke and a woman were seated in his car when they were pounced upon by armed men. Shots were fired into the vehicle and both occupants were injured. Coke drove from Seaview Gardens in an apparent attempt to reach the Kingston Public Hospital but he lost control of the vehicle and crashed along Marcus Garvey Drive. He later succumbed to his injuries while the woman was admitted in serious condition.
“At least five were killed in all in Seaview Gardens last year, we’re not too sure anything can be done, taxi operators have to secure their space, they have to know who they’re carrying,” Newman said.