Murat Karalar, Chairman of the United Taxi Drivers Association, mentioned that transportation is carried out comfortably under the name of ‘pirate’. Karalar noted that although their wishes were granted, legal regulations and auditable mechanisms were to be established.
United Taxi Drivers Association made a press statement in front of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport in order to react to the problems experienced by the sector.
Murat Karalar, Chairman of the United Taxi Drivers Association, Noting that they made an appointment with Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı and conveyed their problems, he stated that Arıklı gave the right to the Taxi Drivers’ Association.
Karalar said that Arıklı called his lawyer and said that ‘the work must be started immediately’. Noting that ‘2 months’ passed since their meeting, Karalar said that they talked to Arıklı’s lawyer and that he only smiled at them. Karalar underlined that this smile means that the work has not started yet.
Pointing out that Africans, Russians, Nigerians and the British are able to carry out transportation in the TRNC under the name of ‘piracy’, which they cannot even do in their own countries, Karalar stated that no law has been prepared to authorize the police on this issue.
Pointing out that the taxi industry does not demand money from the relevant ministries, Karalar noted that legal regulations and auditable mechanisms are to be established despite their demands being given to their rights.
Karalar said, “We had requests from both the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Ministry of Economy, but we did not receive any response.”
Karalar said, “No study has been carried out on anything we said,” and that’s why they wanted to make a press statement. Karalar said that he hoped the relevant ministries would report their views and studies after their statements.
Explaining that they had to close both the license plate and the letter T when they moved to southern Cyprus, Karalar stated that no steps were taken to remove the letter T by switching to yellow plates as in southern Cyprus.
Karalar warned that otherwise they would take an action as a continuation of the action in 2017 and noted that they would continue their struggle for the rights and interests of all taxi drivers.
Muhammet Ercan, President of the Çatalköy Taxi Drivers Association
Ercan stated that they wanted the necessary work to be completed in order to make changes in the legal regulations and to take precautions against those who carry out illegal transportation called piracy, and suggested that the ministry was stalling the sector in order not to implement them.
Seydi Polat, President of the Airport Taxi Drivers Association
Polat, on the other hand, mentioned that a hotel had established a taxi stand with touristic and private vehicles and made illegal transportation, and said that the existing taxi stand in the region was not employed. Polat stated that there has been a struggle on this issue for 4 years, but this issue has not been dealt with.
The press release of the United Taxi Drivers Association is as follows:
“For years, as the taxi industry, we have always struggled on behalf of the sector in our meetings with the relevant ministries and governments.
We have never demanded money from the ministry, on the contrary, necessary efforts have been made to amend the necessary legal regulations against those who steal our bread, and to take precautions against those who make illegal transportation called pirates.
The relevant ministry has not dared to realize our wishes and is keeping the taxi industry busy.
Our demands on behalf of the sector did not receive any response, even though the lawyer was instructed.
If no steps are taken in this press release, we will lock our vehicles in front of Ercan Airport and inform the relevant ministry, government and the entire public that our actions will continue indefinitely, starting in front of the Assembly of the Republic on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 10:00 am.
If these problems are not answered, action will be taken and we will wait until this problem is resolved, and we ask our esteemed prime minister to address this issue”.
