Taxi drivers call for strike on Tuesday

Costa Rican taxi drivers plan to strike Tuesday over the granting of permits by the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) to informal taxi drivers known as porteadores. These are chauffeurs, different from what are referred to locally as “pirate” taxis, which are generally considered less-safe.

Formal taxi drivers plan to demonstrate outside Casa Presidencial in the southeastern San José district of Zapote.

José Luis Quesada, a member of the National Taxi Drivers Forum, a trade association, said drivers are angry with the government for breaking a previous agreement to limit the number of permits issued to porteadores.

In July 2011, MOPT Vice Minister Rodrigo Rivera issued a small number of special-status permits to approved porteadores. That move also led to a protest by already permitted taxistas.

Tuesday’s taxi strike will coincide with a second demonstration organized by the High School Teachers Association, a union.