On the second day of a voluntary work stoppage labeled a ‘rest and reflection’ action by maxi-taxi operators across Trinidad and Tobago, multiple state security and transport agencies mobilized expanded emergency services Tuesday to mitigate widespread morning commute disruptions for the traveling public. Led by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the coordinated response added new participating partners to the effort launched the previous day, growing available vehicle capacity by nearly 200% to meet unmet passenger demand.
When the work stoppage left thousands of regular commuters without access to their usual transit, TTPS reached out to cross-sector state agencies to assemble an emergency fleet. In total, 15 operational vehicles were made available Tuesday, 10 more than the five deployed during the first day of disruptions Monday. Breaking down the fleet composition, Assistant Commissioner of Police Brian Soodeen confirmed TTPS contributed five 25-seater buses, the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service added two 15-seater buses, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) provided one 25-seater vehicle, and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) supported the effort with four 25-seater vehicles and three 15-seater maxi-taxis. The Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) also joined the coordination hub based at Port of Spain’s City Gate transportation terminal.
TTPS Commissioner Allister Guevarro emphasized that the entire cross-agency initiative was rooted in a core commitment to public safety, pushing back against claims from maxi-taxi association representatives that the operation amounted to strike-breaking. Rejecting assertions that the emergency response counted as substitute scab labor, Guevarro framed the effort as a standard public service intervention to address a critical community need. ‘This is the TTPS and other law enforcement agencies reaching out in its capacity to treat with a problem that has arisen,’ he said, noting that the expanded partnership between agencies had delivered a nearly 200% jump in available passenger capacity from Monday’s initial deployment.
Addressing longstanding security concerns raised by the maxi-taxi association, Guevarro acknowledged that law enforcement cannot be omnipresent, and appealed to the public to proactively share information on criminal activity to support policing efforts, as placing an officer in every maxi-taxi is not logistically feasible. He added that commuters displayed orderly, cooperative behavior during the first day of the emergency service, with no instances of disruption or misconduct reported. As of Tuesday, Guevarro also confirmed that a number of maxi-taxi operators had already resumed their regular routes.
PTSC General Manager (Retired Lieutenant Colonel) Patrick Gomez dismissed suggestions that the emergency deployment was a publicity stunt, explaining that vehicles were dynamically dispatched to high-demand routes, with trips merged where capacity allowed to maximize efficiency. Gomez confirmed the initiative was launched after Guevarro formally requested PTSC support, adding that public feedback on the expanded Tuesday service was overwhelmingly positive.
Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour, who was on-site to observe the coordinated response, confirmed that state agencies were aligned in their priority of getting commuters to their destinations safely. Zakour declined to share detailed remarks on a Monday closed-door meeting between government representatives and the maxi-taxi association, but described the discussion as cordial. He echoed Guevarro’s observation that some operators had chosen to return to work Tuesday, noting that the choice to resume service remained a personal decision for individual drivers and that it was too early to link the return to Monday’s talks. Government will continue monitoring operator turnout before deciding on next steps, Zakour added, and reaffirmed that a previously announced checkered-band regulation framework for maxi-taxis, already outlined to Parliament, remains in development.