Another version of this article was published by another newspaper. They're both based on a Facebook post made by Mr MacDonald.
Had a look at the page, and seems he's been trying to recruit drivers/rent out cars to build up some kind of despatch operation. In fact he posted this below on 21 March, just eight days before the post saying he'd mothballed his cars for safety reasons etc.
But this, and the mere eight day gap until his mothballing post, arguably underlines that his holier-than-thou approach to health is maybe just a tad opportunisitic, and in fact he's just shutting up shop because he can't get drivers, and know he won't until all this blows over. And he also seems to do a lot of tourist tours of the Scottish highlands which I would imagine includes lots of overseas tourists. Which will be more or less wiped out until next year.
Anyway, this was the post eight days before the mothballing announcement.
EVERY CRISIS CREATES COOPERATION
Here in Highland there are over 1,000 Taxi drivers. Many are self-employed “Independents” depending on working the few available ranks with no customers, or very few, remaining on the streets or out and about going to work. Other driver/operators, who will be worse off, are those who pay up to £200 a week normally to firms for work (now up to 80% reduced) “off the radio” or other digital transmissions, are still basically, in the main,self-employed. Help is, thus far, minimal, and even if addressed will probably come too late.
Many of this beleaguered section have no choice but to continue working to try and scrape a living and like many others are resultantly exposed to risk from infection.
Perhaps, "Now is the time for all good men, (women and the Government), to come to the aid of the taxi driver and all other self-employed people in real jeopardy”
The following therefore is a proposal that will keep drivers at home and off the streets, reducing pollution and their fuel costs and maximising the available work.
Caley Taxis and Black Mercedes have purchased a phone system that incorporates both our advertised numbers and the driver’s mobiles. (We currently only have three cars left working.) Calls will be directed to the driver’s mobiles, 4 will ring in response to an incoming call. First answered gets the job. The calls will be rotated in sequence to registered drivers.
From next week we will also have a booking app and will discount customers, either using the app or phoning in, the £1 collection charge currently applicable. We will further honour any discounts offered by local taxi companies with particular reference to NHS and other workers deemed essential.
Obviously, three cars will not be sufficient to cover 24 hours so this is an appeal to local drivers to join what will basically be a workers’ co-operative. No dues, no commission for the duration of this crisis. The only pre-condition will be that you will take a maximum of an 8 hour shift and be available, exclusively to this number,at those times. Your mobile would be synchronised during those hours.
Those interested in registration please e mail in the first instance to ********@****** with your name, plate, badge, car and mobile telephone numbers and what shift you are prepared to be available for.
The number is ****** **********
Andrew MacDonald
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