ST JAMES, Jamaica — Cabbies in St James on Thursday stayed away from a town hall meeting organised by the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS) to discuss the new Road Traffic and Regulations Act.

A dejected TODSS President, Egerton Newman, said an effort would be made to reschedule, but conceded he has no way of knowing if the numbers would improve.

Of the 10 people who showed up, only one was a taxi operator. The rest were from TODSS, state agencies and the political sphere.

“I am a little bit sad. I am a little bit down because I thought this was going to be maybe not the largest but a powerful turnout at today’s discussions. Unfortunately, it is not so,” Newman said from the almost empty Mount Salem Community Centre in Montego Bay.

The meeting was supposed to be the fifth in a series of discussions designed to get reactions to the Act, which came into effect on February 1.

Held under the theme “Ready For the Road under New Law and Order”, the event was expected to join transport operators in talks with representatives from the St James Municipal Cooperation, the parish police, the Road Safety Unit in the Ministry of Transport and Mining and TODSS’ legal team.

The series of meetings come ahead of TODSS’ planned submission to the Government of its list of concerns about the Act. Submissions have to be made within three months of the Act being rolled out.

Vice President of TODSS, Dwight Pusey said the Government asked the group for feedback and the island-wide consultations were a way to get a wide cross section of views.

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Richard Vernon (Jamaica Labour Party, Montego Bay South Division) was among those who expressed displeasure at the low turnout Thursday afternoon.

“I am a little bit disappointed that we don’t have the cohort that is most vocal where the legislative changes are concerned here with us this afternoon,” he said.

He commended TODSS for the initiative, indicating that the Government is willing to listen to their concerns.

“We ensure that it is an inclusive process and this is one way in which that inclusion is facilitated. So, it is very important that our stakeholders turn out to a meeting like this so they can participate in the process of their own governance,” said Vernon.

His colleague in the St James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Kerry Thomas (People’s National Party, Mount Salem Division) also expressed his full support of the consultations.

“People and Government should be able to come together and understand some basic terms and understand that these are the guidelines to stay within because it will keep you protected and safe,” he said.

“I am very disappointed being in the second city and the attendance is practically zero taxi operators. Whatever the reason for that disconnect, it is something that you have to resolve,” he added.