Dear Sir,

I write as my wife just returned from a long-weekend trip to Bermuda today.

She informed me that after a quiet Saturday night at the Lido/Sea Breeze, she and her friend caught a cab leaving the Elbow Beach property and at the end of the access drive, the driver stopped and informed them that he had no gas and that they would have to pay for it with their credit cards.

Stumped, and a bit bewildered, they noted that the last fare that exited at the Lido paid in cash and that they would pay in cash as well — and that it was quite an irregular request. The taxi driver insisted, saying he had cash but they still had to use their credit cards — and when they refused again began verbally abusing and swearing at my wife and her friend, then got out of the cab and slammed the sliding door open and demanded that they get the f*** out of the cab.

They again refused, noting that it was after midnight, little traffic on the roads and very difficult to find a cab, given most had hung up their keys for the evening after Cup Match. When they requested to be driven back to the restaurant so they could call another cab — and be more secure — he refused.

Both women were quite shaken, given the man’s verbal abuse, demeanour and size. Both women were well dressed in heels and perhaps mistaken for tourists. My wife was visiting a local friend and my wife’s friend was not having it. She called 911, informed the dispatcher that they were two women being verbally abused by a large man, who was forcing them from a taxi cab at midnight.

The Police’s only response was to take the man’s licence number and did not seem to acknowledge the potential of the situation. Thankfully this happened on the Elbow Beach property and not on a back street, where it could have unravelled.

Obviously, this man was not a regular driver and most likely borrowed the cab to make a few extra while the owner took the night off. However, there is still no excuse for this behaviour; the man could have been incapacitated in some way and the events could have become far worse.

Having lived and worked in Bermuda for over 15 years, I have used the taxi services hundreds of times without incident and, in fact, truly believe that the taxi professionals are the ambassadors of Bermuda. My wife convinced her friend it was better to get out now than ending up in a worse situation. She is still a bit shaken by the situation.

I write this due to my disappointment in what is happening to Bermuda: that the police did not react to the situation in any capacity; that the true taxi licence-holder should be aware of what is going on in his or her name; that this man obviously was running some scam he hoped to berate two woman into and others should be warned; and that this man should not be allowed to drive a taxi ever.

Should this incident have gotten worse — as other families have sadly experienced in Bermuda — what would the 911 police service have to say? Have you not learnt your lesson? Two women late at night being abused. Idiocy.

So for the record, the taxi plate is T1756. Hopefully, it is not too hard to find the large abuser driving this cab at midnight, Saturday, August 1, dropping a fare at Elbow Beach cottages and picking up two women wishing a secure ride home.

DAVID M YUHASZ