Taxi owners who are policyholders with Colonial Insurance Company can, from today, secure a 15 per cent discount on their annual premiums if they renew their insurance policy before October 1.

Naz Farrow, Colonial’s chief executive officer, said the company was reaching out to taxi owners because they have been hard hit by the pandemic’s impact on the tourism industry.

She said: “These are small business owners who’ve seen their business disappear through no fault of their own. They are also an industry that is vital to the ongoing and future success of the Island, so it’s important to support them in any way we can.”

Ms Farrow added: “Every day at Colonial we work hard to fulfil our people-first mission and this helping-hand discount is one way we can do that.”

Corrine Fiocca, of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association, said: “These are difficult times for taxi drivers. Although tourist numbers are slowly picking up, business is still slow, so this discount from Colonial will be a big help for many of our members. I would like to thank Colonial for this initiative.”

Taxi owners can renew their policies by calling Colonial weekdays between 8:30am and 5pm on 296-3700, or they can renew online at the company’s insurance portal at hellocgi.com. They can also visit Colonial’s offices on Reid Street, Mondays to Fridays between 10am and 4pm.

The taxi owner discount is part of a community-minded effort by Colonial to ease financial pressures caused by the pandemic. Its initiatives have included client renewal reductions such as discounts to individual motor clients and a weekly draw for $100 vouchers at The MarketPlace grocery store.

The new insurance portal enables clients to renew and access their home and motor policies online and to get answers to any policy questions they may have. Clients who sign up for the portal are eligible to win hundreds of dollars in vouchers, including $300 Gibbons Company gift vouchers and $500 Belco vouchers.

• For more information, call 296-3700, e-mail Melvin.Howes@colonial.bm or visit https://hellocgi.com/