BVI News

Airport taxis equipped with logging system for contact tracing

“Every vehicle that leaves from the airport has a commute log … So we know who goes with who, where, what time they get there and so forth.” — Director of the Taxi & Livery Commission

Taxi and Livery operators transporting arriving visitors from the TB Lettsome International Airport have been equipped with a detailed commute logging system established to contact trace passengers, should the need arise.

This is according to the Director of the Taxi & Livery Commission, Jevaughn Parsons who told BVI News the system has all the details of each passenger a driver transports.

“Every vehicle that leaves from the airport has a commute log. So whomever comes and is dispatched to government-provided transportation, the livery has a commute log. Even when they get on government-provided transportation to sister islands, that commute log is registered. So we know who goes with who, where, what time they get there and so forth,” Parsons explained.

“That is, first and foremost, the most important thing where contact tracing is concerned. So once we know who that guest is, we know where they went, and what time they got there. We would know their whereabouts speaking to the driver and so forth. So contact tracing comes somewhat easier and we would know whoever rode in the vehicle with them,” he added.

How it works

Director Parsons said every visitor is assigned to a specific taxi and these assignments are based on the location of the passenger’s prearranged accommodations here in the territory.

“It starts from booking your accommodations and booking your reservations to fly. You log on to the BVIAA portal, you upload your PCR test and other details of your flight. As you get to the BVI, it is then also a streamlined process. You do your testing at the airport, you come out, you pay for your testing before you even get into transportation and are dispatched to a vehicle,” Parsons explained.

“Once you get to the vehicle, everything is taken care of for you once you have your prearranged booking with the livery services. Those are here waiting for you as you get to the airport and also government-provided transportation is here waiting for you. So if you are going to a sister island, that again is accommodated for you, the boat is laying and waiting at Trellis Bay,” he added.

Taxis selected based on destination

Parsons said all rides for guests using government-provided transportation is free, as the drivers are compensated by the government for providing the service.

He said: “It is per your accommodation. There is not a specific taxi per flight, but based on where you are going, a specific bus takes you to that location. Livery services do some of the outer islands like Necker for example, they provide their transportation which have been sanctioned by the Taxi and Livery Commission who is in charge of transportation and government-provided transportation do some of the residents and even visitors that come and don’t have pre-arranged bookings.”

All taxis retrofitted with protective barrier

Director Parsons also spoke about the safety measures in place to protect all drivers operating at the airport.

He said both the Taxi and Livery Commission and the government have put mandatory protocols and guidelines in place that must be followed by all public transportation being used to transport arriving guests.

“We’ve created a safe space within the transportation. So once you come to work and do quarantine bus service (QBS), your bus is supposed to be retrofitted with a protective barrier. All of the livery services have them in. Those who we have approved have them in to work at these sites and that will also be carried on to the waterfront arrivals too,” Parsons stated.

He added: “Subject to the maximum capacity of the vehicle, you can only carry a certain amount of passengers due to social distancing protocols. Right now, on the ground, our max capacity for the buses that we have here is approximately six people. So if your max capacity is around 13 or 14, your subject to six or seven and groups of families ride together.”

With more than 25 scheduled flights during the first two days since the reopening of the territory’s borders on Monday, it is estimated that more than 200 arriving passengers were transported to their respective accommodations utilising either government provided transportation or livery services.

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7 Comments

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  1. hmmmm says:

    why is goverment providing transpertation ???

    • Case says:

      Are the bus drivers tested after each trip so the passengers know they will be safe from them?

      What happens if you.re going to Jost? You won’t be getting in no boat at Trellis.

      Do you HAVE to use the government service or can you just drive yourself or get a regular taxi?

    • Doh says:

      Money grab plain and simple.

      But don’t worry, these taxi drivers are taking every precaution to stop the spread of Covid. They have gold seal protection. That certificate protects you, your children, your family.

      Carry on

  2. Spirit says:

    For contact tracing to work, the system needs to also track the people who may have been exposed. Just tracking the incoming passengers (who might be carrying the virus) is of little use. Think about it – how would you identify and notify people who may have been exposed? Go on radio and TV and announce “anyone who was in the area of X between the time of X and X on the day of X should go to the clinic and be tested”? True contact tracking systems do this automatically.

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  3. Ok says:

    @ hmm you dumb

    • Susanne says:

      Planning to be in BVI early February 2021 but very concerned. What gives us pause is the taxi ride we will have to take. While the driver is protected, how can there be social distancing in a full vehicle? I’m also curious about the GPS bracelet. Are they waterproof and shockproof? There are also some vague directives in the current protocol. If you have a Covid positive test while in the BVI, where do you stay. Is there a charge if you are quarantined for a positive?

  4. Anonymous says:

    Planning trip to BVI in early February of 2021. Several things make me extremely uncomfortable. One thing, and primary on my list is the taxi ride. No one should be in the vehicle except for the driver and those traveling together as family or close friends. The other is the tracking braceuy

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