Cabbies were denied the opportunity to stage a protest in the Transport Control Department’s parking lot yesterday, with traffic officers turning them away.

According to the Bermuda Taxi Owners and Operators Association, between 15 and 20 taxi drivers arrived at the TCD to highlight issues affecting their industry but were asked to leave by the department’s officers.

Police officers were also present but only to direct traffic, a Bermuda Police Service spokesman said.

The taxi drivers instead drove past the building several times.

BTOA members are unhappy about several matters, including no rate increase in a decade.

Shari-Lynn Pringle, the secretary of the BTOA, said: “The disappointment came in the overkill from TCD using their traffic officers to block and direct traffic.

“I feel it was totally unnecessary for them to block both entrances. If they had just let us in the parking lot, everything would have flowed smoothly.

The aim was to park in the car park and have the acting transport minister or the TCD director come out and address the drivers, she said.

“Yesterday, we sent a message to the minister, and his team was copied in on that, asking for answers to three simple questions.

“We want to know what the rate increase is going to be so we have something to negotiate to or from.

“We want to know what time Rate 3 is going to be moved back to — 9pm or 10pm,” she said.

At present, Rate 3 kicks in at midnight.

“And we want to further discuss the option of temporary permit taxis before the Government proceeds with the idea of allowing private cars to transport visitors,” she added.

“We are appreciative of those who gave up some of their time this morning, but it was a disappointment that we were not able to get into TCD.”

A spokesman for the Bermuda Police Service said that officers were present at the TCD but did not turn any drivers away.

He said: “Police attended the location in order to provide traffic control, as well as ensure the protest remained peaceful.”

Asked whether it was legal for the protest to be staged at the facility, the spokesman responded: “A peaceful protest is not illegal.”

Asked why protesters were denied access to the TCD, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Transport said that a statement issued on Tuesday, before the protest, “stands”.

The statement made no mention of the fact that protesters would be turned away.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, issued that statement immediately after being informed of a planned protest.

In it, he said: “I have received information that the BTOA will stage a protest at TCD tomorrow. This is disappointing news.

"As I've stated in e-mail correspondence with the BTOA executive and most recently at the meeting held in December 2023, I recognise the importance of continuous communication in fostering a collaborative relationship between the ministry and the executive and members of the BTOA.“

He said approvals for a rate increase should be in place by April 1 and that he will be willing to meet with the BTOA at a future date.

Mr Furbert said he was “travelling on government business” on the day of the protest and would not be available.

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• UPDATE: this story has been updated to clarify that police were at TCD only to direct traffic