Taxis Threaten Boycott
Come March 2 you won't be able to get a taxi in Costa Rica. That is the threat by taxi drivers to boycott services for one day to protest the decision by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) to issue more taxi place licenses.

The taxi group met during the weekend with Transportes vice-minister, Viviana Martín and the vice-minister to the Presidencia, Roberto Thompson, who are being asked to withdraw their plans for more taxi licenses.

Martín told the group that the decision was not hers and is part of the legal process. "It is very difficult becauses laws are changed in the Legislative Assembly, however, we will look for any legal mechanism where there could be changed", said Martín to the taxi group.

Taxi drivers say they are upset with the issuance of more taxi licenses and added to the allowing of "porteadores" - informal taxi services - they ability to earn a living is shrinking while costs are going up.

The taxi group said they will for anwswer to their petition before making a final decision on the boycott. A decision on the matter was promised for next Monday, February 12.

Rodolfo Paniagua, of the Comité Pro Defensa del Taxista Costarricense, was adamant that there will be strong action by taxi drivers to the governments plans to issue more taxi licenses.