Gov't cracks down on greedy taxi drivers amid storm recovery

Minister of Transport, Honourable Daryl Vaz has said that there have been reports of passengers being charged 50 to 100 percent above the set fares they should be paying and has said that the police and the transportation authority have been given authority clamp down on such behavior.

"There will be zero tolerance for this type of behavior," he said.

Providing an update, the minister said that the Sangster International Airport began commercial traffic at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.

He noted that relief flights have been departing from the airport, and commercial flights will now allow persons in Jamaica who wish to leave the island to do so.

He disclosed that some 13 cargo flights came into Norman Manley International Airport yesterday and some 20 cargo flights will be coming into NMIA today.

He described the relief effort as overwhelming and thank those who have been rallying to the assistance of Jamaica at this time

Vaz said that Norman Manley, Sangster and Ian Fleming airports are all opened

The press briefing was also told that road access is being opened and work by the National Works Agency will be ongoing throughout the weekend.

Minister of Information, Honourable Dr Dana Morris Dixon, said that food distribution is taking place and helicopters will be dropping food into areas that are hard to reach.

She said that additional helicopters have come into the island to assist with all the relief efforts. These helicopters will be working with the Jamaica Defence Force.

During the briefing both Minister Vaz and Minister Morris Dixon constantly commended the efforts that are being made to assist relief and recovery efforts.

- Lester Hinds

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