The problems created by the decision of the Licensing Authority in April 2010 were discussed today in the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, in Parliament, where tension was caused by urban taxi drivers of the Free Famagusta Area, who were affected by the implementation of the new public transport system. and by that decision; In statements after the end of the session of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Works, which discussed the problems faced by urban taxi owners in the Famagusta Free Zone, the Chairman of the Committee Antonis Antoniou said that the problems are too many and have increased after its implementation. new public transport system, but also with the decision of the Permit Review Authority in April 2010.
"According to this decision, the four traditional offices of Ayia Napa are secured, which have a total of 16 taxis, while the rest of the taxi professionals, unfortunately, with the decision of the Review Authority do not have a specific parking space, are wanderers and this creates many serious problems. . Of the 240 road permits that exist in the area of the Famagusta Free Zone, 170 permits are in Ayia Napa and the turnover is limited to only three to four months a year and for this reason many problems are created due to the large number of road use permits ", he added.
He also said that the Parliamentary Committee on Transportation has decided today, after a suggestion of all those present, the Mayor of Ayia Napa and the Ministry of Transportation, to hold an intensive dialogue in the next fifteen days to find a way to resolve the problems.
"The issue will be returned to the Parliamentary Committee on Transport and Works in two weeks, so that we can find ways to resolve this issue that afflicts several families in the area of Free Famagusta," he added.
Asked how many licenses have been suspended, Mr. Antoniou said that about 40 licenses have been suspended.
"After the decision of the License Review Authority, all those affected were notified to present their licenses to the Road Transport Department in order to make the necessary correction regarding the space in which they operate, the parking space. "Several of them did not respond, believing that the decision was unfair and did not appear before the Road Transport Department, so the Licensing Authority suspended these licenses," he said.
Two appeals to the Supreme Court against the decision of the Licensing Review Authority are pending, and this complicates matters even more. The decisions of the Licensing Authority are irrevocable, they are immediately applicable and for this reason the big and many problems arise, which were also evident by those affected today ".
Asked about the tension that arose outside the room where the Parliamentary Transport Committee was meeting, Mr. Antoniou said that after the end of the session there was some tension from the affected taxi drivers, but during the session there was absolutely no problem.
Asked if the arbitrary withdrawal of licenses is legal, Mr. Antoniou said that according to the decision of the Review Authority, which is immediately applicable, if some do not apply the provisions of this decision, the license is automatically revoked and this was done by the Road Transport Department.
In addition, taxi drivers in Ayia Napa, whose taxis have been revoked and who attended the meeting of the Parliamentary Transport Committee, with their statements, ask to remain in their stop, ie in their parking lot.
At the same time, they wonder how they will live after the decision of the Review Authority, as after the freezing of the road taxi license, they are not allowed to work with their taxis.
Finally, they stated that they are not going to give up their position and state that they are satisfied with the way they work.
Source: Cyprus News Agency