The Bahamas Ministry of Energy and Transport has announced a significant initiative to recall nearly 800 inactive taxi and livery plates, aiming to address revenue discrepancies and streamline the transportation sector. Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis revealed that the ongoing audit at the Road Traffic Department has identified 783 inactive plates in New Providence and Grand Bahama. These plates, unused for six months or more due to delinquency or the death of franchise holders, will be recalled effective November 30, under Section 69 (1)(b) of the Road Traffic Act. The minister emphasized that the presence of inactive plates has skewed revenue calculations, as the government’s intake is based on all issued plates, regardless of their activity. She clarified that the issue is not a failure in revenue collection but rather the underutilization of many plates. The recall is also intended to address the high demand for new plates, as the ministry seeks to balance the market. Bahamas Taxicab Union president Tyrone Butler criticized the government for issuing hundreds of new plates “recklessly” in 2022, which oversaturated the industry and led to many operators leasing their plates. While he supports recalling plates of retired or deceased holders, he believes operators should still have the opportunity to update their plates. Bahamas Livery Drivers Union president Tory Austin praised the initiative, calling it overdue and necessary to identify active operators in the increasingly saturated market.