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–    mandatory dress code, complaints hotline to be establishedBy Leonard GildarieMore than 50 taxi services across the country yesterday signed onto a new code of conduct which will spell out how drivers will have to operate.The guidelines, which will come into effect in three months,Antti Niemi Jersey, will mandate services to not only ensure drivers are properly dressed,Doug Gilmour Jersey, but that background checks are carried out when they are hired.  The updated code of conduct will eventually see taxi services wearing particular colours to identify them, and even includes blacklisting services and drivers that are in breach.Eventually, similar code of conduct measures will be introducedTourism Minister Irfaan Ali (third from left) and other stakeholders at the presentation of the new code of conduct.to speedboat operators and minibuses as part of a strategy to lift the standards of the public transportation system, Tourism Minister (ag), Irfaan Ali stated yesterday.Ali was part of a team from the Tourism Ministry and Guyana Taxi Service Association which hammered out the details for the updated guidelines. A special hotline has been established by the ministry to take complaints.The issue has indeed been a sore one for government for years now.  Experts in the transportation sector say that there are between 8,000 and 9,000 taxis in operations, excluding private hire cars. There are 94 taxi services listed across the country with just half registered with the association.Over time, drivers of both minibuses and taxis have been accused of being ill-mannered, badly dressed, with little supervision to make a difference. All too often there have been reports of taxi drivers involved in robberies and of passengers being deceived or robbed. There are even instances of some taxis, attached to services,Niklas Backstrom Jersey, being parked at drinking spots.Taxis and minibuses have largely been blamed,CM Punk Jersey, also, for the lawlessness on the country’s roadways.According to Minister Ali, many countries have standard guidelines for taxis to protect the customers.Essentially,Trevor Van Riemsdyk Jersey, in the initial phase,Vladimir Tarasenko Jersey, the taxi services will have to monitor themselves.It is the aim eventually to set up a database with approved taxi services and a system that will allow customers to make complaints that can even lead to a public blacklisting of the service and suspension of the driver, if warranted.Penalties like public blacklisting and police information of drivers who have been charged will all be data that can be used in improving the sector, the Minister asserted.Under the new codes, drivers will be barred from wearing vests or slippers and will more than likely have to be dressed in uniform, outfitted with identification of the particular taxi service.Shortly, the Tourism Industry is set to start training drivers, dispatchers and managers also to sensitise them on the new expectations.Regarding the taxi services,Patrik Berglund Jersey, measures are being put in place to have them list details of customers who call for a ride, to ensure safety. Cars will also have to be clean,Jason Zucker Jersey, well maintained and roadworthy. The codes also warn about discrimination against passengers because of gender, sexual preference, disability,Jonathan Toews Jersey, age and pregnancy.New guidelines for taxi and minibus operators are soon to be introduced, the Tourism Ministry said yesterday.Taxi services will have to take immediate disciplinary action against employees and drivers for serious breaches of customer service requirements, it was disclosed yesterday.Then there is the issue involving taxis not attached to services. In the coming months, these will also be addressed, the Minister informed. So will private cars moonlighting as taxis. The officials yesterday warned that insurance does not cover passengers in these illegal operations.Taxi services are paying up to $150,000 per car annually for comprehensive insurance.Ali admitted that similar measures with the operations of minibuses have not met with success as there are several associations representing those drivers. Efforts are now being worked on to facilitate the establishment of a National Transportation Association that will also address river transportation and the issues affecting private hire cars. There have been a number of deadly river accidents involving speedboats in recent months.In 2011, the former administration in an effort to streamline the sector had introduced a reduction in the import taxes for taxis, as a form of incentive for the operators to regularise. In return, the taxi services agreed to use yellow as the standard colour on their vehicles.Signing the updated code of conduct yesterday were Minister Ali and Hema Khan, President of the Guyana Taxi Service Association.