Taxi driver charged over abusive language to passenger

Ceberg Archibald, 34, of 35 West La Penitence allegedly made use of abusive language to Patrice Gonsalves on February 8 at North Ruimveldt whereby a breach of the peace may be occasioned.

Representing Archibald, attorney-at-law Adrian Thompson in his bail application told the court that the matter arose when the defendant refused  to wear his seat belt and the Virtual Complainant refused to pay the fare.

Thompson said that the VC abused his client and slammed his car door so hard that she shifted his window.

However the VC said that she had called for a taxi while at CID, Eve Leary and Archibald was the one who came to pick her up. She said that as he was taking her to North Ruimveldt she asked him to put on his seatbelt or he would be charged by her and the traffic police.

She said that he refused and became abusive so she said nothing further. When they reached her destination, Gonsalves said she asked the driver to give her time to go into her house  to get the rest of the fare but  the defendant again became abusive.

Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford told the court that if tourism is to be promoted “we can’t have taxi drivers abusing passengers.”  However, the prosecutor did not object to bail being granted.