More than 30 luxury transportation vehicles with federal license plates held a peaceful demonstration yesterday morning against the arbitrary actions of the Nayarit Mobility Secretariat in Bahía de Banderas and its delegate, José Luis García, who, according to them, protects the aggressions of the Nayarit taxi drivers.
In addition, they claim that Garcia has implemented operations against them, resulting in each of their vehicles being checked upon arrival at the hotels, causing inconvenience to tourists. They have also withdrawn 3 vehicles in recent weeks without any justification, leaving at least 10 families without work.
According to transport organizations, the attacks affect 30 transportation companies and 800 workers.
The demonstration was in the form of a caravan that began at 10:20 am from the Sam’s parking lot in front of the Puerto Vallarta marina, and traveled along Highway 200 in Bahía de Banderas, entering through the second entrance, exiting through the first entrance to Nuevo Vallarta, and returning to Puerto Vallarta.
Banners were posted on the vehicles calling for the cessation of harassment and what they call express kidnapping, and extortion, in which they ask for between $300 and $1,500 pesos in order to pass.
Noé Quintero from the Association of Tourist Guides and Transport Companies of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, reported that the reason for the demonstration was because this situation has gotten out of control in the last week, and that it is necessary for the state authority to be aware of the situation.
He said, “We have been being attacked with tourists in our units. They have taken vehicles from us, and they have given us fines. We mainly believe that peaceful demonstration is the route by which we can assert the rule of law.”
Moisés Peralta, president of the Puerto Vallarta and Bahía de Banderas Association of Tourist Carriers, called the authorities’ attention to the great impact these types of events is having on the tourism that visits the destination. “It does not affect carriers, but tourists who miss their flights and feel intimidated,” he said.
The carriers added that the taxi drivers seek to justify their aggression with an agreement that dates back to 2004, which people who no longer exist signed, and in which there was an agreement of a minimum of 15 people to be transported by the crriers, to which they disagree.
Although working groups have been held with the Mobility Secretariat of Nayarit Sistiel Karime Buhaya Lora, and agreements have been reached, these are not respected in Bahía de Banderas, so it is necessary for authorities to be aware so that can take immediate concrete actions.