Mariano Torres Ribas, current member of the board of directors of the Ibiza Island Taxi Federation (FITIE), has been elected president of the Association of Self-Employed Taxi Drivers of Ibiza, the majority in the city. He will be seconded by Alejandro Cardellwho leaves the post after 12 years in office and will now be vice-president.
In conversation with La Voz de Ibiza, Torres Ribas stated that his main objective is to “provide the best service to the citizens” and to act so that “the Vila’s regulations are fully complied with”.
More security for cabs
One initiative that he will promote will be the installation of surveillance cameras both inside and outside the 130 member cars. “We must evaluate this issue within the association and see how it can be regulated, whether the regulations need to be modified or whether it is already contemplated. But today this is necessary, it is a safety issue,” he said. The head of the autonomous cab drivers of Ibiza will have a meeting on Tuesday with the councilman of Smart City, Public Transport, Beaches, European Funds and Projects, Tourism, Ruben Sousa, in order to engage in a dialogue as a new representative and raise this issue. Asked about the plan being drawn up by the Govern to determine the number of cab and VTC licenses needed on the island, Torres Ribas has insisted on prioritizing seasonal licenses. “I do not know the number and the proportion that will be of holders and employees, but the ideal are seasonal licenses.” On the survey promoted by the Govern, which has aroused criticism from some of the actors involved in the sector, he said: “We will do what the Govern asks us to do, but I would like to count more with the sector to prepare these reports. I mean more dialogue, they are politicians and we are cab drivers, we are the ones who are on the street and know the situation better. Their intention may be very good but I would like to sit in representation of the sector and that they take us more into account”.
Intrusiveness and the need to unify the service in Ibiza
In reference to the problem of illegal cabs and intrusiveness on the island, Torres Ribas told La Voz de Ibiza that “we cannot continue to give the image of a banana republic”.
Ibiza, banana republic
“There are regulations, ordinances, laws and they are there to be complied with. I agree that there are VTC, seasonal transport, minibuses, but that there are pirates at the door of the airport that will catch a customer before you, is a banana republic,” he added. Regarding the initiative that empowers the Consell de Ibiza to create a Mobility Consortium, whose functions include unifying the cab service throughout the island , the new head of the Association of Self-Employed Taxi Drivers said: “We are a large city that has municipalities, each with its own powers, but we must all go to the same end. Unity is required to provide a quality service, that we are in every corner and that the total demand is covered. I don’t think anyone will be harmed. “The action plan I have is to try to expand the board of directors, if possible, and focus on providing a good service to citizens while complying with current regulations. We have to adapt to changes in technology, new vehicles and new ways of working, that will come with time,” he concluded.
