Raby Syed, the group’s president, said starting Saturday CPA is charging them $15 every time they enter the seaport.
Before, the charge was only $1 which was later raised to $5, he added.
The Saipan City Taxi Association members get passengers from DFS and are not parking at the seaport, he said.
According to Syed, their group should not be charged the $15 fee.
“Even $5 is unreasonable during this time of financial crisis,” he said, as he urged CPA officials to explain the higher fee.
He said there was no public hearing and notice about it.
Syed said they can drop their passengers outside the seaport gate, but CPA police won’t allow them to do so.
He described the “aggressive” attitude of the CPA police as “unprofessional.”
A copy of a CPA receipt furnished by Syed to Variety indicated that it was for a $5 fee, but an additional $10 charge was written on it.
The receipt also showed a handwritten note stating: “Taxi –No permit”
Syed said they deserve to be treated fairly because they are operating legally and observing the laws and regulations of the CNMI.
“I hope the CPA officials will look into this and come up with a solution,” he said.
