CTI wants professionalism by taxi operators in new cruise season

Cruise ship visitors in Dominica. Photo credit: dominicaweekly.com
Cruise ship visitors in Dominica. Photo credit: dominicaweekly.com

As the new Cruise season for the 2015-16 period get set to begin, Public Relations Officer of the Combined Taxi Incorporated (CTI), Reynold Alcendor, wants members to place professionalism high on their priority list.

Alcendor told Dominica News Online that professionalism was among many items discussed at the CTI’s 8th AGM which was held on Thursday 24th September 2015 at the conference room of the Garraway Hotel.

“We touched on many different things, re the tourism industry, taxi drivers, taxi operators, the upcoming season,” He said. “We touched on proper hygiene, proper dressing, the approach, the undercutting for prices for the tours, the competing at each other for a group of persons…”

He bemoaned that competition among taxi operators portrays disunity, greed and presents a bad image of the country.

“It shows that some of us are very unprofessional and it is not a good thing, it does not go down well, the people don’t like it, it is almost like harassment,” he said, adding that it is not a good impression to visitors.

“When they (visitors) get there as soon as they disembark the ship, after customs and immigration, the second person that they see may be a taxi driver,” Alcendor noted. “So you cannot portray yourself to be unprofessional that is bad for the industry. You have to portray yourself as the professional, one who is well trained, and one who is capable of taking the visitors to the site on the tour and at the end of the day you leave a good lasting impression.”

Additionally, training for taxi operation was discussed as well as the last cruise season, which he said was “not too bad.”

The association is hoping for an even better season this year.

Meantime at the AGM a new executive was elected for the CTI.

The top position of President went to Phillip Jenner Guiste, while Curtis Labassierre was elected Vice President.

Margel Durand was elected Secretary unopposed.

The rest of the elected executive are Oris Campbell, Treasurer; Lewis Romain, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer and Alcendor, the Public Relations Officer.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

9 Comments

  1. July 18, 2016

    It is definitely a good idea to have proper training to these drivers. It would be a great help in maintaining orderliness in highways.

  2. indigenous k
    September 27, 2015

    Professionalism in any organization is the key to success, my concern is to be mindful that we do not bend too low in the name of professionalism to allow the visiting tourist to believe that we are hungry, we are children of the slave and they can do and say as they please because we are displaying that professionalism.
    We are the world and in every sector of the society we have the good the bad and the ugly, and we need to strike a balance, character and principle is worth more than money and this aught to fit in in the whole aspect of professionalism.

    • September 28, 2015

      You’re right that, as Proverbs says, “a good name is more desirable than great riches.” But professionalism is not at all the same thing as subservience, and if you show good character by having a clean transport, a pleasant attitude, and a genuine interest in your passengers having a pleasant excursion, you and the country will end up better off materially, not worse.

  3. jane messaml
    September 27, 2015

    P,lease practice what you preach. Ensure there is ongoing training for the taxi drivers and everybody else involved in this venture. Dominica must step up and do better when it comes to tourism – after all it is mainly the bread and butter of the country.

  4. September 27, 2015

    The devil is working in Dominica . Some Dominican talk too much , Dominican take a good look at yourself and think before you all speak, as someone comment earlier some of you are wankers take a pill and go to sleep,

  5. September 27, 2015

    :mrgreen:

  6. September 26, 2015

    BY ADMIN ON 27 JUNIO, 2015 4:24 PM ON AIRPORT-POP-TAXI, AIRPORTS, BUSINESS
    22

    Aiport Pop Taxi Services Puerto Plata
    Aiport Taxi Services Puerto Plata is one of the most beautiful provinces of the Dominican Republic. Situated in the north part of the island, Puerto Plata has all that you need to enjoy your vacation here. Nice weather, wonderful touristic infrastructure and the most beautiful beaches, not to mention the nice hospitality of the people that you will feel in the very second you come to this beautiful place in the Dominican Republic. On top of that Pop Airport will provide the transportation from the airport Gregorio Luperón.
    Our taxis are there waiting for you to bring you

  7. Dan Tanner
    September 25, 2015

    There won’t be a cruise ship season because of the storm damage. Taxis can’t take people around when the roads are washed away!

  8. September 25, 2015

    it leaves one to wonder, as big men and women, of the industry, needs “Training” to learn how to mind their manners? We really not ready, But it is what it is.” Manners maketh man& women” and our attitude determins our altitude”. Brothers and sisters, that should be our Watch word. Lets do it together.

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available