THOUSANDS of commuters across Trinidad and Tobago are expected to be affected from today as maxi-taxi operators begin a planned three-day “rest and reflection” action.Maxi-taxis from all six routes across the country plan to take part in today’s action which will run until Wednesday.Operators said this is in response to long-standing neglect and unaddressed issues plaguing their industry for decades.The action is expected to affect thousands of workers, students and other commuters with added strain expected on those transportation services not involved in the action.Assistant Secretary of the Association of Maxi Taxi Trinidad and Tobago (AMTTT) Vernell Carter yesterday confirmed operators’ plans to stay off the nation’s roads for the next three days.He said the only way their action would be avoided was if Government presented them with proper documentation outlining a “reasonable and responsible time for solutions for the issues outlined”.Asked what would they be doing for the three days he said today the AMTTT executive will be at the Route Two/red band compound (City Gate in Port of Spain) and Route One/yellow band compound (on South Quay)Drivers from the other routes are invited to their compound.One of the things they were asking from Government is a hub for each maxi-taxi route.“The other routes don’t have a hub to gather in, to sit down and rest and reflect, so they would be up on our side between Route One and Route Two and they could come because the facility is a nice area where the cafe is housed and where they could probably sit down and watch some television,” he said.There are approximately 5,000 maxi-taxis operating in the country, according to the Association.Maxi-taxi issues The key issues raised by maxi taxi operators include:• Illegal competition, namely the increase in unlicensed “PH” vehicles and white buses operating on routes reserved for maxi-taxis.• A request to increase the speed limit for maxi taxis from 65 km/h to 80 km/h, an issue raised since 2021.Transfer of maxi-taxi licences:• Need for clear rules on transferring public service vehicle licences in cases involving: death of an owner, serious illness, amnesty arrangements and open transfers.Route and hub development:• Upgrading and better management of maxi-taxi stands and transport hubs nationwide. Operators believe that just like red- band and yellow-band maxis, all routes of maxi-taxis need to have their very own hub.School transport issues:• Outstanding payments owed to school transport operators.• Clear designation of pick-up and drop-off zones, particularly in Port of Spain.Road access:• Permission for maxi-taxis to use certain overpasses and routes currently accessible to Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) buses.National Insurance:• Better arrangements for NIS contributions for self-employed maxi-taxi operators.Radio permits:• Clear legal guidelines governing radio communication systems used in maxi-taxis.Safety and security:• Improved security for commuters and drivers, especially during night-time operations.Intra-city passes:• Simplification of requirements for obtaining passes needed for intra-city services.Extreme concern forstudents, teachersPresident of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) Crystal Ashe yesterday expressed “extreme” concern over what the action could mean for the nation’s school children from today to Wednesday.“TTUTA is extremely concerned about this maxi-taxi situation for sure. Our teachers and students use this service daily and it will definitely impact on them,” he said.He said parents of students writing exams will have to put measures in place to ensure they reach their destinations.He said their union has also heard the concerns of maxi-taxi operators with respect to outstanding payments to the school maxi-taxi service in the amount of $10 million.“They have only received payment for two weeks this year while our educators are also waiting for their backpay,” he said. “TTUTA asks that the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Education get their house in order and pay all persons their outstanding monies immediately. Citizens cannot take promises to the groceries and financial institutions.”Ashe said: “The largest employer in Trinidad and Tobago is the Government and we expect that they would be on the ground hearing the calls of the national community. A positive outcome can still be realised with meaningful communication.”President of the National Parent-Teacher Association, Walter Stewart, said the action by maxi-taxi drivers concerned him deeply and the Association was pleading for restraint given ongoing CSEC and CAPE examinations.“The NPTA fully acknowledges and respects the rights of maxi-taxi operators to pursue legitimate avenues to address their challenges relating to school maxi-taxi payments, hub development revitalisation and management, policy guidelines on PBR transfers and other concerns which have persisted across successive administrations,” said Stewart.He added, however, that he was respectfully pleading for restraint given the ongoing CSEC and CAPE examinations.“Our students have toiled and prepared diligently for these exams and any disruption has the potential to cause unnecessary anxiety, uncertainty, disadvantage and inequity,” he said.He also urged Government to implement contingency measures for affected students to ensure that they could get to their exam centres on time.“We further urge and appeal to the Government and AMTTT to come together with a sense of urgency and goodwill to address all outstanding matters that have given rise to this situation,” he said.Maxi-taxi colour routes:Involved in today’s action are red band, yellow band, green band, black band, brown band and blue band.Red band, also known as Route Two, operates along the Eastern Main Road and Priority Bus Route from Port of Spain to Arima and from Arima to Sangre Grande. It is the largest of the routes with approximately 2,000 vehicles.Yellow band maxi-taxis, also known as Route One, operate from Port of Spain to St James, Carenage, Chaguaramas, Diego Martin and Petit Valley.Green band maxi-taxis connect Central and South Trinidad. These maxis operate from Port of Spain to Chaguanas and also from Curepe Junction to Chaguanas and then to Couva and San Fernando.Black band maxi-taxis operate from San Fernando to Princes Town and then to Mayaro.Brown band maxi-taxis operate from San Fernando to La Romaine, Siparia, Penal, Cedros and Point Fortin.Blue band maxi-taxis operate exclusively in Tobago.