“There was a vote of no confidence due to the state of the cooperative, which any member could see. We were elected, and upon taking charge, we realised things were not as they appeared, and we face obstacles every day.”
“Of course, I am against the arrival of VTCs, but it is because they do not operate under the same conditions.”
The new president of the San Marcial Taxi Cooperative in Arrecife, Ruimán Brito, stated during the “A Buena Hora” programme on Crónicas Radio this Tuesday that when they took over the direction of the association following the death of his predecessor, Lito Guillén, and a vote of no confidence, they discovered “issues” that should not have occurred. He preferred to keep internal matters confidential but mentioned that some aspects, such as the general accounts, did not add up. Despite rumours of cross-claims among cooperative members, he asserted that they have not received any notifications but have encountered obstacles from those who did not want them in charge of the Arrecife taxi drivers. He noted that when the mayor, Yonathan de León, criticises the shortage of workers during the evening or night shifts, he always responds that more examinations are needed to increase the number of drivers and made it clear he is opposed to the arrival of VTCs on the island as they pose unfair competition and do not operate under the same conditions as taxi services.
Transition Challenges
– Has the transition following Lito’s passing been smooth?
– No, it has been quite complicated and fraught with difficulties. We have encountered numerous challenges.
Issues Encountered
– What exactly do you mean?
– Difficulties imposed by other members who preferred that different individuals took over or that the same leadership continued. We have found issues that should not exist. There are problems.
– Can you provide examples?
– Internal matters should be addressed internally.
Legal Disputes
– You mentioned other members, and it seems there are cross-claims. What will happen?
– As of today, we have not received any notifications of any kind. We are attempting to manage the cooperative in the best possible way and to recover it as effectively as we can.
– Have you been informed of any impending legal action?
– We’ve been dealing with this since April, but nothing has materialised yet.
Election Process
– How does the transition occur? Is there a vote in an assembly?
– There was a vote of no confidence due to the state of the cooperative, which any member could see. We were elected, and upon entry, we discovered things were not as they seemed, and we face daily obstacles. We proceed calmly, aiming to do things correctly.
Financial Discrepancies
– Have you encountered financial discrepancies?
– The general accounts are sufficient to indicate that something is not right.
Cooperative Revenue
– The cooperative reportedly generates millions in revenue, correct?
– Supposedly, it generates millions. Publicly, it appeared one way, but upon assuming control, we discovered it is much worse than we anticipated. We believed it was bad, but it is significantly worse. These are matters best kept within the cooperative. We must strive to recover the situation calmly, as there is no other option.
Collaboration with the Mayor
– The mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, expressed his satisfaction with your governance this Monday. Do you believe the Ayuntamiento is heading in the right direction?
– The meetings have been very productive, as when you can converse with people who understand your perspective, things tend to go well. The mayor questions the lack of taxis during the night and evening shifts, to which I respond that more examinations should be conducted to allow more people to qualify. It’s natural for him to advocate for his interests while I do the same, but through discussion, we understand each other perfectly.
Driver Recruitment
– Examinations aimed at increasing the number of drivers or licenses?
– More drivers, as 70 or 80% of licenses only have one driver. Logically, one person cannot be on duty 24 hours, and without qualified individuals who have passed the required examinations, we cannot cover all shifts.
Ongoing Disagreements
– There were significant disagreements regarding the overall taxi situation in Lanzarote with other associations. Are there still issues?
– I have engaged with them in meetings and discussions; it is always the same: we must reach an agreement to work collectively towards a functional system. We will need to hold further discussions with them and the Cabildo, but I have had no issues with them. If they contact me, I respond, and we are willing to attend any meetings and collaborate to ensure the taxi service functions without the need for VTCs and similar alternatives.
VTC Recommendations
– There appears to be a report from the Chamber of Commerce advocating for the introduction of VTCs. What is your perspective?
– To me, it represents unfair competition, as they do not operate under the same conditions. Their prices vary based on service requests, while we operate with fixed rates that, despite a 50-cent increase three months ago, remain below the required liveable wage. Considerable hours are necessary to earn a decent income. I am certainly against the arrival of VTCs due to their different operational standards.
