Today’s Taxi Ordeal

Unfortunately, I don’t own a car even though I’ve had my drivers license for a couple months now; to get from one place to the next I either have to charter a cab, borrow a friend/relative’s car or simply face the pangs of public transportation. But after today’s ordeal, I made a mental note that 2014 will not end and I don’t own a car.

So now for today’s taxi ordeal, I’m convinced things like these only happen in Jamaica. After almost 4hrs to get my hair done, I was faced with the burden of having to call a cab to pick me up from my hairdresser’s remote location (mind you its worth the visit). Within minutes, the empty cab pulled up and I was off on my fifteen minute journey into the town. Minutes into the journey, the driver, without any sense of courtesy to inform me that he was going to turn off did so hastily. Upon picking up his friend, I surmised from the convo that both would be making a trip to St.Ann shortly.

Further on, three more persons entered the car which would indicate that the vehicle had now exceeded its required capacity. Around the corner we met a man waiting along the roadside with a box on his head, obviously tired from the midday sun which was out in all its glory. Then the driver made an abrupt stop in the middle of the road, in a corner; this in mind, we were minutes away from an accident had another vehicle approached at full speed. Then the driver proclaimed “mi nah lef nuhbady cau is di last trip dis”. One confused passenger shouted “soh driver weh yuh aguh put him” to which the driver replied “watch out fi dis”. The driver exited the vehicle and shouted to his friend who isn’t a registered taxi driver “lakka how yuh fat an’ yuh nah pay come drive mek di man come een and mi siddung pon di trunk”. As I watched this drama unfold, I was definitely not amused as I was behind schedule and if we encountered the cops that would result in having to wait on another taxi.

And so we proceeded down Waltham hill with fear in my heart. As I neared my destination, I asked the friend who had now assumed the role of taxi driver how much was the fare and as expected he had no clue but informed me that it couldn’t be more than $100. Upon approaching the stoplight to enter the town, the driver on the trunk shouted “yuh haffi guh tap right yah soh” and so the friend obeyed. During this exchange, the lights had changed and as expected, motorists were now honking their horns continuously. And the convo between the driver & his friend continued at the stoplight. “Soh yuh nuh expect mi fi walk come a park” questioned the friend to which the driver replied “no man tan up yah soh mek mi drop off an’ circle back fi yuh”. By this time, the lights had changed once more and the other motorists were most displeased to the point where some hurled expletives.

I had reached my stop and handed the driver $100 and to my surprise he said “baby a $150 fi fare since January enuh”. In my state of annoyance, I said “but your friend said $100” and he replied “him cyah tell yuh dat, after him nah run taxi”. Without further ado, I handed him another $50 and exited the car. All I could do was shake my head and say only in Jamaica; an overloaded car and a taxi driver risking his life and setting himself up for a ticket all in sake of $150. Another reason 2014 will not end and I don’t own a car.

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