00:00With the new school year set to begin bright and early on Monday morning,
00:04MaxiTaxi school concessionaires are still waiting for the majority of the monies owed to them by the government.
00:10President of the MaxiTaxi Association and chairman of the Route 1 Yellow Band MaxiTaxi's, Ian Hewitt,
00:16says he has been in contact with Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Eliza Kour,
00:21who assured that the concessionaires will receive some of their money today.
00:25But it's just a small portion of what they're owed.
00:28So I have been having regular calls and consultations,
00:33and the last call was yesterday, where he called and he assured me that money will be in the bank
00:40today.
00:41Right?
00:44We're looking at two fortnights.
00:47Right?
00:48Now remember, the overall figure here is 7.5 fortnights.
00:55So we're still out five and a half fortnights.
01:00Hewitt says this is not an unfamiliar move by past and present administrations in a bid to quell displeasure.
01:06But with rumours circulating that another payment will be made soon,
01:10the association intends to hold the government accountable.
01:13Now this is a regular thing all governments would do.
01:18Just before school, and you know, thing could happen, throw a bone failure.
01:23But my thing now is that due to consultation, I am also hearing in the wind of some payments next
01:33week.
01:34Right?
01:34I have nothing in writing, but I'm going to hold them to it.
01:38Correct.
01:38Right?
01:39I'm going to hold them to it.
01:41Because I am hearing of a significant payment next week.
01:47Hewitt also says that while his relations with Minister Zakour have improved greatly,
01:52he and the association are still yet to meet with Education Minister Michael Dowlath.
01:57They are very disappointed about this, and he's appealing to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance
02:02to move the school maxi-taxis from under the purview of the Ministry of Education.
02:07I'm asking for us, as the transport people, to move out from the Ministry of Education.
02:14I'm asking the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance this morning to move us out under that horrible condition
02:21that exists in the Ministry of Education and put us in the Ministry of Works and Transport.
02:27Right?
02:28Because their Ministry of Education would pay PTSC, which is Ministry of Transport,
02:33and PTSC will then pay us.
02:35Why? Why this crossover of ministries?
02:40This is a transport problem, and I don't feel that Ministry of Education put enough into it about paying us.
02:49So why are you paying the teacher to come out?
02:51Why are you paying the contractors to get the school ready?
02:54And to bring the children is a problem.
02:57The association wants to meet with the ministers to discuss the terms and conditions of the existing contract
03:03in order to find a more suitable agreement.
03:06Dominic Ramroop, TV6 News.
