TAXI DRIVERS plying the Chaguanas to Curepe route are demanding heavier police presence at the various hubs, saying they believe this will help deter criminal activity.

The demand follows the death of municipal police officer Jason Thomas, 37, who was fatally shot sometime after accepting an offer by three men to hire out his taxi from the Chaguanas stand on Monday night.

The Express visited the Chaguanas stand yesterday and spoke to several taxi drivers, who all declined to use their names as many of them said that the suspects know they were seen. 0The mood on the stand yesterday was gloomy.

"It is a strange thing when one of your colleagues get killed. Right now the mood here is not nice at all. He (Thomas) was a nice fella," said one taxi driver.

Another taxi driver said those in his profession have been victimised for too long and nothing has been done to protect the people who provide an essential service to thousands of commuters on a daily basis.

"Every year plenty taxi drivers get killed. We are in danger on the job and then when we go home our houses are also being robbed," said one taxi driver of 20 years.

The Express was told the men were first seen earlier on Monday at the Chaguanas taxi stand on Curepe junction. Several taxi drivers there declined to take them in, feeling they looked suspicious. The trio reappeared on Monday evening at the Curepe taxi stand in Chaguanas where they were able to hire Thomas.

"Taxi drivers have to stop taking hire from any and everybody. If two men come and offer you $100 to go right around the corner that is too good to be true," said one driver.

Still, the drivers felt that having more police around could make a difference.

"Maybe the criminals would think twice if they were to see police hanging around the taxi stand. Instead of coming here to hassle drivers and give tickets, the police should come and look out for these type of characters. If some of these fellas get shake down on the stand they wouldn't come around with guns in their pockets," the driver said.

Yet another taxi driver said those in high risk professions should be given the right to bear arms.

"We are under attack just like the fishermen," he said, referring to a pirate attack in the Gulf of Paria last week.

"Give us the right to protect ourselves because it looks like criminals have more rights that people in this country."