PETERSFIELD, Westmoreland — Among the grouses that kept taxi operators off the job in Westmoreland on Monday was the concern that they need to use their phones while on the job, but doing so is a ticketable offence.

One man, who gave his name as Foot, was the most vocal among cabbies in Petersfield who withdrew their service in an effort to push the Government into rethinking the rules. He pointed out that he has no office, his phone is how he conducts business and he does not hold the instrument in his hand while it is being used.

“It is not going to my ears,” he said, pointing out that he uses the speaker feature on the phone or the Bluetooth system on the radio.

“All of these things they want to charge you for. These things are total rubbish,” he said as colleagues looked on and nodded in agreement.

“The same police are using their phones too while riding. So what happen to we? We are not somebody pickney too?” questioned Bobby, another cabbie.

Foot also sounded a warning that other drivers are similarly at risk.

“From you are a driver’s licence holder, you are at stake. You can lose your licence within a week or less than a month and you have pickney to feed, light bill fi pay, and all kinds of bills to pay, plus you have loans to pay. These things cannot work and if they decide to continue we are going to strike and road ah guh continue to block. Mi serious about it,” he thundered.

“It is from a long time that we see it coming but actually, it reach right now,” Foot added.

He also argued that Jamaica is ill equipped for the ticketing system the Government has put in place, where a range of infractions result in demerit points which may lead to drivers losing their licence.

“Regardless of how them say Jamaica is unruly, we are not ready for this yet. You cannot upgrade we from Third World to First-World country because we nuh have the resources. In the first place, we don’t even have road fi drive on,” said Foot.

He was among a group of cabbies who, from as early as 6:00 am, blocked a section of the Petersfield road leading to the community’s high school and training centre. Foot was adamant that operators will be out again to demonstrate if an agreement is not achieved during a Transport Authority meeting planned for Tuesday.