Taxi drivers "did us a favour" by unblocking the roads
02.08.2011
02:01
Relations between the government and taxi owners are deteriorating, especially after the unsuccessful Monday morning meeting between the owners and the Minister of Infrastructure.
Relations between the government and taxi owners are deteriorating, especially after the unsuccessful Monday morning meeting between the owners and the Minister of Infrastructure.
Taxi drivers are toughening their stance even more, including blockades on national roads, ports and airports, resulting in irreparable damage to tourism.
In Achaia, taxi owners blockaded the national highway at Rio-Antirio for hours, leading to the formation of many kilometers of car queues while traffic moved either by ferry or along the old national highway.
At some point, taxi drivers moved to the old highway, blocking it off for a while, while car queues had formed between Antirio and Ioannina. Thus, drivers had to head towards the Rio- Antirio ferry port in order to cross over.
A great mobilization of taxi drivers took place in Heraklion, Crete, where the airport was blockaded, creating new tensions, while riot police used teargas.
Demonstrations were also held in Corfu, where taxi drivers blockaded the port, forcing buses to miss their appointments with tourists disembarking from cruise ships. In Thessaloniki, taxi owners marched on foot to the city center; in Samos, they took over the local IRS offices and looted the offices of the local PASOK MP.
After today’s events, the Ministry sent a memo to the prefects to implement the law on obstruction of transportation which, in addition to criminal prosecution, carries the penalty of removal of registration and license plates for a whole year.
On his part, after referring to the 80 case files involving 6500 taxi owners, Minister of Citizen Protection C. Papoutsis stated that police will do its duty and that no one has the right to close off roads, ports and airports.
However, according to reports Mr. Ragousis reiterated to professional motorists that the proposals presented by the end of the month will not be unilateral, but will also include the suggestions of all stakeholders. In parallel, he has made it clear that dialogue cannot be embarked upon with extreme situations as the backdrop.
Taxi drivers are toughening their stance even more, including blockades on national roads, ports and airports, resulting in irreparable damage to tourism.
In Achaia, taxi owners blockaded the national highway at Rio-Antirio for hours, leading to the formation of many kilometers of car queues while traffic moved either by ferry or along the old national highway.
At some point, taxi drivers moved to the old highway, blocking it off for a while, while car queues had formed between Antirio and Ioannina. Thus, drivers had to head towards the Rio- Antirio ferry port in order to cross over.
A great mobilization of taxi drivers took place in Heraklion, Crete, where the airport was blockaded, creating new tensions, while riot police used teargas.
Demonstrations were also held in Corfu, where taxi drivers blockaded the port, forcing buses to miss their appointments with tourists disembarking from cruise ships. In Thessaloniki, taxi owners marched on foot to the city center; in Samos, they took over the local IRS offices and looted the offices of the local PASOK MP.
After today’s events, the Ministry sent a memo to the prefects to implement the law on obstruction of transportation which, in addition to criminal prosecution, carries the penalty of removal of registration and license plates for a whole year.
On his part, after referring to the 80 case files involving 6500 taxi owners, Minister of Citizen Protection C. Papoutsis stated that police will do its duty and that no one has the right to close off roads, ports and airports.
However, according to reports Mr. Ragousis reiterated to professional motorists that the proposals presented by the end of the month will not be unilateral, but will also include the suggestions of all stakeholders. In parallel, he has made it clear that dialogue cannot be embarked upon with extreme situations as the backdrop.
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