BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – A well-known taxi driver says Port Zante is missing the leadership of former Minister of Tourism and International Trade, Mr. Richard “Ricky” Skerritt.
“We are missing your leadership at the Port here in Basseterre,” said Mr. Clement “Bouncin” Williams, a noted scientist, mathematician and educator in congratulating Mr. Skerritt on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA).
In a posting on social media, Mr. Williams said taxi men “are floundering waiting for the new directives from the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Lindsay Grant as to the ways about and the proposed new directions.”
Mr. Williams disclosed that “taxi operators are already crying for the 71, plus a new batch of 48 taxi men who were trained over the last two weeks.”
“We had ten thousand visitors on three ships yesterday (October 27) and many of us managed one trip while sitting out most of the morning. It is real rough for the taxi operators,” added Williams.
The hardship being experienced by local taxi men comes in the wake of a statement by former Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Earl Asim Martin who said last week that cruise ship arrivals to St Kitts is expected to decrease for the 2016/2017 cruise ship season as the St Kitts and Nevis economy continues to deteriorate.
Dr. Martin said that October 2016 was the worst ever in several years with just 10 ship calls last month compared to previous years. It is estimated that 31,000 cruise passengers visited St Kitts this October compared to 51,000 cruise ship passengers from 17 ships in 2014.
According to the IMF, the St Kitts and Nevis economy has declined from 7 percent in 2014 to 3.5 percent in 2015 and further decline to 3 percent is predicted in 2016.
