The group officially organized in 2009 but some of its 60 members have been operating taxi cabs on island for 20 years now.
On Feb. 19, the group gathered at the Kilili Beach pavilion for the inauguration of new officers and a general membership meeting.
Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, who was the secretary of the association, was elected president.
The other new officers are Habibur Rahaman, vice president; Muhammad Abdul Momen; Zakir Hossain, co-secretary; and Sikder Muhsin, treasurer.
The members of the board of directors are Faruque Muhammad Khalequezzaman, Ziaul Hauque, Shamsu Zzaman, Harunor Tashid, Kaderi Kibria and Thongxai T. Carroll.
Rahman vowed to continue defending the interest of the taxi business and supporting the tourism industry.
The NMI Taxi Association will continue to campaign against illegal taxi operation, he added.
“More than 100 illegal taxis are operating on island now,” he disclosed to Variety.
Their group is operating in almost all of the hotels on Saipan, and at the seaport and airport.
Based on its surveillance, the group was able to collect the plate numbers of illegal taxis on island.
“We have nothing against them if they operate legally,” Momen said, adding that illegal taxis have destroyed their business.
“What if they figure in an accident? Who will pay for the tourist? They don’t have insurance,” he said.
According to Rahman, “Before, those illegal taxis were only picking up local residents and guest workers. Now, they are getting tourists.”
He said illegal taxis are depriving the CNMI government of revenue.
Their group, he added, is also planning to conduct a series of cleanup drives at tourist destinations.
“This is our way of helping the tourism industry — safely transporting the tourists and helping maintain tourist sites,” he said.
