London Cabs Cause Road Rage in Kosovo
The arrival of ‘Black Cabs’ from Britain’s capital to the Streets of Pristina has led established taxi drivers calling foul.
London’s trademark taxis have begun operating in Pristina – to the delight of some passengers and dismay of established cabbies.
Luan Berisha launched his London Taxi service earlier this month with 15 right-hand drive back cabs, but other taxi drivers complain that the firm should not have received a licence for the operate the vehicles.
Rumours have been swirling Pristina that the real owner of the company is son of President Fatmir Sejdiu, Bardhyl Sejdiu, and that political connections helped secure the right to ply trade by leapfrogging competitors.
And strenuously denials by Mr Berisha have not softened the position of other taxi firms.
Gezim Babiqi, the owner of radio Taxi Roberti, told Balkan Insight: "We all know that this company is registered under the president’s son’s name, and that is why the municipality has given permission so quickly to this company, while other taxi companies who have worked here for ten years aren’t allowed to expand their service."
He added that while he does not fear the competition, it is so wrong for a firm to be given preferential treatment.
"We have no parking space for our cars, and then there are many of other taxies who work illegally and nobody controls them," he added. "So the municipality first should regulate these issues, and then let other companies operate."
He said that his company, like many others, had not been allowed to increase the size of its fleet because of a lack of parking, while London Taxi had been awarded permits without any problem.
Mr Berisha told Balkan Insight that it was his time spent living in London and using the famous cabs which inspired him to bring 15 back to Pristina.
He dismissed allegations of political connections as ‘pointless rumours’, saying that if his firm was connected to the President’s son, he would not hide it.
"There is no law in Kosovo that denies the right to any political son to open a private business, so I do not want to deal with these pointless rumors," he said.
"My cars are one hundred percent produced in England, plus my vehicles people with disabilities, so that we meet all the conditions that municipalities support us," said Berisha.
On the other hand, the only think that these cars distinguishes for those of London, are they wheel, which Berisha had to change, since driving is not allowed in Kosovo were wheel is on the right side.
Muhamet Gashi, Pristina municipality spokesman says that municipality has given a work permit to this company after London Taxi has met all conditions for circulation in public traffic.
"London Taxi has received permission to work after the commission has done assessment and according to this commission this company have meets all the conditions. While the municipality has also permitted the expansion of several other companies depending on the requirements, so it is not as Babiqi says," Gashi said.
As for the term that behind this company is the president son, he says that such a name is not found in either a document of this company.
source:
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/26170/
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