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Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said it might be time to open the Priority Bus Route to all commuters so the maxi taxi drivers can operate without any fee, as she criticised the maxi taxi operators for wanting to raise fares.

She made the statement in WhatsApp messages to Newsday on December 30. On December 25, it was announced that PBR drivers would now pay a $600 quarterly toll, double the previous amount. Most traffic fines were doubled, and customs fees were set to increase, possibly leading to an increase in prices of vehicle parts. When Newsday spoke to drivers at City Gate on December 28, some of them suggested a fee increase of $3 for short drops, taking the fee to $8.

However, Persad-Bissessar said the new increased fee to use the PBR amounts to $3 more per day, while operators had been paying $3 per day for 37 years.