Dear Editor,

We have for too long embraced this “eat-a-food” mentality in Jamaica, which has become too commonplace in our daily operations.

Understandably, we should encourage side jobs and entrepreneurial ventures, especially in this economic climate, but this should be done ethically and legally. In fact, a study conducted by Caribbean Salary Survey Report: Pay Pulse 2024 found that Jamaica has some of the lowest salaries for top roles in the region.

While it is not shocking, it is disheartening. We have many competent and qualified people here who are ambitious and hard-working. Even though migration has become the go-to for many, there are others who decide to help build their country, which means that we need to get to a stage, economically, at which we can be on par with our Caribbean neighbours and pay our people well. Nevertheless, obtaining wealth or ‘surviving’ on the back of others should not be encouraged any further.

In light of the unfortunate and untimely death of the two Lennon High School students and the hospitalisation of other schoolchildren who were involved in a crash along the Bustamante Highway in Clarendon earlier this week, I wish to address this “eat-a-food” mentality primarily among taxi drivers.

A common practice among taxi drivers is to hike their fares at their convenience, which leaves commuters confused and perplexed. In the Corporate Area, for example, taxis that ply the Half-Way-Tree to Papine route charge either $180 or $200 per trip, while those that service the Papine to downtown Kingston route charge either $150 or $180 per trip.

Given that there is no standard among the drivers – although the Ministry of Transport has set prices – commuters are often forced to comply with whatever a driver tells them. Sometimes they pay their fares expecting to receive their change, but the driver insists that he charges a specific amount. Even though it may be a $20 or $30 difference, some commuting passengers have actually budgeted their money. I often wonder how university students, who often experience harsh economic realities, manage with this inconsistent price range. Twenty dollars or $30 can make the world of difference for some of them.

Drawing back on the fatal crash mentioned earlier, the “eat-a-food” mentality has caused several taxi drivers to be operating on the road illegally – some having no licence or insurance. When they are caught in the wrong, they want to blame the Government for their irresponsibility and unaccountability. Often they chastise the police and Transport Authority for executing their mandate. They believe they are targeted and the police should pursue criminals instead – refusing to admit that they are in breach of the law.

Many citizens also feel the taxi men should “eat-a-food”; however, it is not until tragedy strikes that they understand the danger of having illegally operated taxis on the road. Many of them drive recklessly, disobeying the road code, and when passengers are injured, they receive no compensation. Some of these drivers do not deserve to be on the road; they should not even have a driver’s licence to begin with; however, because many personnel at the examination depot and Tax Administration of Jamaica have to also “eat a food”, a lot of taxi drivers, including other commuters, have the opportunity to buy their licence.

An interesting irony in this situation is that the actual owners of some of these taxis are employees of the armed forces (police and soldiers), whose mission is to serve and protect. As law enforcement officers they should be mindful of the law and abide by it.

I wonder if the new Road Traffic Act has been having any effect on commuters.

Oneil Madden

Maddenoniel@yahoo.com