Disappointment in Taxicab Commission Executive Director

SAINT THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS - Senator-At-Large Angel Bolques, Jr. expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of service and communication from the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission. His office has been inundated with calls over the past two weeks regarding the commission being closed for at least the last few months due to what is being stated as "unsafe work conditions." Though Senator Bolques does not advocate working in an unsafe environment, Senator Bolques does not understand why the commission's Executive Director has not taken any actions to continue the commission's work via e-government protocols or collaborating with other government departments, agencies, boards, or commissions to work out of another location to curtail the lapse of services. "Based on several discussions with Taxi-Men and Taxi-Women, I am being told that employees are working from home and are unreachable or cannot provide the required service," Bolques stated. "Even in this hybrid and remote work era, leadership in those roles must still be held accountable for executing and completing their tasks and responsibilities." It was also brought to the Senator's attention that there is no online service option during this closure, further complicating the situation and impeding those needing plates, medallions, renewals, etc. "The fact that drivers cannot work legally because they cannot access services is completely unacceptable." Senator Bolques continued, "This is the livelihood and main or only source of income for these people, and the entire commission is responsible for this lapse in management, execution, customer service, and overall interest in assisting them; I have tried on numerous occasions to contact the office myself with no avail" Bolques concluded.

###