Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has recommended an immediate ban on all ride-sharing apps until they meet regulation requirements.

This recommendation follows the disappearance of 29-year-old St Catherine teacher Danielle Anglin, who was reportedly using a ride-sharing app at the time.

“Madame Speaker, I want to indicate that my recommendation as of today, which will obviously be vetted for legal purposes, is a ban on all those ride-sharing apps with immediate effect until such time as we can come to the table and work out properly how these apps will be regulated in terms of making sure that safety and background checks of the drivers are done not only by the app but also by the Jamaican authorities, whether it be the police, the transport authority, or whoever, and I make no apologies,Vaz told Parliament yesterday, Tuesday, June 4, during his sectoral presentation.

“I have a responsibility as a minister and an elected representative to protect the lives of the people, and I am saying to you that I am prepared to go to the end of the world to make sure that the ban is enforced immediately with a view of sitting down with the Transport Authority, in fairness, who is already meeting with the local transporters who have designed apps and want to implement apps for the betterment of their service,” he added.

The transport minister said he has written to the country’s two telecommunications providers indicating concerns raised by citizens about their safety while using ride-sharing apps.

“This is just one of several cases where the police have evidence that ride-sharing apps have been used for criminal activity. So, it’s not just the unfortunate loss of life on the weekend; there are several cases. With a letter from the police to the Minister with responsibility for telecommunications, I have a responsibility to act and I am standing here today, acting and I will do everything to ensure whatever is in the way we clear it until such time when we have a regulated formula to introduce it,” Vaz noted.

He said the Government has sought to engage with both local and international ride-hailing providers to streamline their operations within the regulatory regime; however, only Uber has indicated its willingness to operate within the legal framework.

“The Transport Authority will be meeting with local ride-hailing entities this week. In this regard, Madam Speaker, inDrive remains outstanding. I would like to also point out that in addition to the Government’s concern about safety and security in this environment, there are issues relating to undercuts in the market where they charge lower fares, the impact on tourism, the economy in general, and the threat of money laundering and terrorism,” the transport minister said.

He said the Transport Authority is set to meet with the local ride-hailing services this week.