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TAXI DRIVERS POSE THEIR DEMANDS

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Some two hundred taxi drivers today flooded Yerevan’s main square with their cars in protest against stricter licencing and taxation rules imposed on them. As usual, they protested a government decision banning the use of vehicles manufactured more than 10 years ago.


Cabbies again parked their cars outside the prime minister’s office in Yerevan’s Republic Square to keep up their pressure on the government.


Remind that under the new requirements, taxi companies and independent cab drivers have to pay an annual state duty of 25 000 drams for each of their cars in addition to regular revenue tax. Yet, taxi drivers are denied licences if their cars are too old.


Taxi drivers say if they do not possess licences they are fined up to 20000 drams. In December 2008 taxi drivers after long-run negotiations the authorities agreed not enforce the new rules until January 15 and further discuss the matter with the protesting drivers in the meantime.


The proteters were promised to know the answer on February 9 but today they were told the answer will be given tomorrow.


RA Ministry of Transport and Communication says the Transport Inspectorate can do nothing unless the Government changes the order of licencing. “We haven’t been informed of any changes. The Transport Inspectorate is entitled to execute the laws and norms of the Government and National Assembly,” says the press secretary of the Ministry Susanna Tonoyan.