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Does anyone know if Kevin is still around in STT for taxi service to ferry dock?

Give him a call (340) 643-0025

Cheers, RickG

And yes, he is around.

He is definitely still around. I saw him at the ferry dock yesterday and commented that the airport process is changing and to be sure you've contacted him a couple of days in advance of your arrival.

Jason,
what's changed at the airport?

Rumor only, the taxi cab mafia does not want independant drivers allowed in for pickups.
G

Port Authority which operates the airport has always had a contract with a single Taxi Association to operate the taxi stand there. -- That agreement does allow for non association members to pickup with 'prior'arrangements -- this contract is currently being re-evaluated, that is what Kevin is talking about IMO - in any case you should always have made prior arrangements with Kevin as he is often very busy.

He said the Port Authority wants to charge him something like $500/year.

Charging independent drivers a yearly fee may certainly be a point on the bargaining table.
$500 ----If you work 250 days a year that is $2.00 a day.
When you have a regulated service like the taxi stand at the airport that requires taxi drivers to wait their turn in line overseen by the dispatcher some drivers will have long waits for a fare and may only be able to do 2, maybe 3, pickups a day while spending wasted hours of off time waiting in line for their turn.
When an independent driver comes in a few times a day for their 'prior arranged' pickups, has no wasted hours waiting in line at the airport so can carry other fares all day, pays no association dues, and stands at the front of the line with a sign for "The XXX Party" the regulated Association drivers certainly take notice.
The organized Taxi drivers constitute a strong political power and a cohesive voting bloc in STT, strong enough to seat or unseat our $85K/yr legislators, surely affect our Gubernatorial elections, and rarely take credit cards for payment.

I always recommend Kevin because he does a great job and I have known him and his family since he was in school - he is a good friend, a hard working entrepreneur and a fine example for the Community.

I have no horse in this race, one way or another, but I can certainly see where the organized taxi drivers might have some gripes with independent drivers.

we have used Kevin for both our trips, do the taxi drivers give the same level of service?

I don't doubt that he gives a greater level of service, but I can see the organized drivers' point, that perhaps he should pay for being able to access the airport..

I thought they did pay. I know they run tickets through exiting the airport. Perhaps there is a grace period and they don't pay. Will ask Stanley next trip if he can still pick me up.
G

Sorry, I probably misunderstood. I thought from what LocalSailor was saying, that he didn't currently pay anything.

Another point of view. Seems we normally land in STT around 2:30. Factor in the usual 3 planes all unloading which translates to a few hundred people all wanting a ride either into town or to the ferry. Granted you are now on island time BUT the way they operate, it takes al least 45 minutes for a cab to get " fully" loaded and depart the airport. (It seems, one at a time)With Kevin (independent) you know once you have your luggage you will in fact get out much quicker and when dealing with the ferries every minute counts. Without Kevin, I can clearly see a couple times we would have missed the last ferry of the day.

As Carol said, I've got no horse in this race.
I assume no one is required to join the organization.
If the independent drivers are getting more fares and
making more money, then rather than grousing, the
organized drivers may want to reevaluate their organization.
Having said that, I'm sure the drivers and the people of
St. Thomas can make these decisions without my help.
The only vote I cast is with my money.

Mike

Why is there an "organized taxi association" to begin with? I think the free market would do just fine if left to it's own devices. Though I do understand the cronyism that exists here. Hard to overcome.

Exactly Mike, although as we're seeing here in Boston and other cities, Taxi drivers don't want to change. They just don't want to see other methods in use. If Uber wasn't good, people wouldn't use it. Rather than change, they just complain and try to make Uber illegal. Seems similar in STT.

Paying for your entry ticket and parking time is not what this fee consideration was about.
Stanley aka "The Love Cab" is also an entrepreneurial hardworking taxi driver and may be able to explain the situation better than I can.