Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The gate the leads into the Taxi Owners Association — referred to as TOA Taxi Stand — in Tafuna was locked as of last week Friday, while the leader of the TOA Taxi Stand requests a meeting with Commerce Department director, Keniseli Lafaele, who is also chairman of the Commerce Commission, the government agency that regulates taxi and bus businesses.

Samoa News received word last week that local authorities have locked the gate at TOA Taxi Stand; and Samoa News confirmed the information last Friday afternoon following a site visit. The gate was closed and locked — although there was a white colored taxi inside — and no one was answering TOA’s business phone.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the DOC in a May 13th letter informed TOA Taxi president, Emanuel Ulberg that the company’s business license is suspended, pending “revocation proceedings” for its continued use of their own taxi fare hikes despite being previously warned by Commerce Commission vice chair Steve Leasiolagi and a police officer.

According to the May 13th DOC letter, a revocation hearing of the business license is set for Sept. 3rd at the DOC conference room and TOA Taxi is allowed to have witnesses and introduce evidence to contest the proposed revocation action.

Ulberg was informed that operating without a valid business license is a class B misdemeanor, according to the DOC letter, which also states that the department received 20+ complaints about TOA’s unauthorized fare hikes.

DOC’s suspension of TOA’s business license was based on a “review and recommendation by the Commerce Commission,” which didn’t approve the fare hike used by TOA, the letter says.

Samoa News received word that the Commerce Commission was to have met last week to discuss matters pertaining to TOA Taxi. Responding to Samoa News inquiries, Lafaele said the meeting was “cancelled due to a lack of quorum.”

Asked if Ulberg has sent an official response over the suspension of Toa's business license, Lafaele said, “TOA Taxi requested a meeting with me, so I will meet with them this week.”

Asked when the gate to TOA Taxi was locked and which ASG agency carried out the task, Lafaele responded, “DOC does not know when the gate was locked and which agency, if any, locked the gate.”

TOA is leasing from the Samoa government, land in Tafuna belonging to ASG, which was given to Samoa during a land exchange deal several years ago. (ASG’s land in Samoa remains unused at Vailima, close to downtown Apia.)

TOA Taxi is composed of several taxi operators, who have their own separate business licenses issued by DOC, as well as a Certificate of Convenience to operate, issued by the Commerce Commission. Samoa News understands with TOA’s business license suspended, these private taxi operators have joined other taxi stands.

DOC and Commerce Commission have stressed that all taxi operators and drivers must comply with current taxi rates and not overcharge customers. The two ASG entities encourage the public to continue to report any violations with the needed information “so we can take action against specific drivers.”

Information includes recording the vehicle’s license plate number, taxi driver’s name, and time and place — including route — of occurrence.