POLICE Commissioner Francis Forbes, angered by allegations of corruption and bribery by traffic cops, has called an emergency meeting this Monday to discuss the allegations.

“I am getting too many complaints involving the traffic police, particularly about taking bribes from motorists, and their general lack of manner in dealing with motorists and the general public. Police officer must understand that respecting the human rights of the Jamaican people begins with respecting dignity,” Forbes said in a statement issued by the Constabulary Communication Network.

Monday’s meeting was, however, called in response to a demonstration yesterday by taximen outside the Transport Authority’s head office in Kingston. The taximen claimed that the police were targeting them unjustly in spot checks and also that police were demanding money payments from them.

The authority earlier this month outlined more stringent requirements for cabbies and is now moving to crack down on those who operate illegally. Licences are supposed to be renewed every two years.

But the demonstration comes a day after the authority announced that it would not give the more than 2,250 illiterate taximen across the island time to learn to read. Cabbies who cannot read generally skip the renewal process and evade the police. Thus those who are not literate would be weeded out of the system.

Even though yesterday’s demonstration was not authorised by the National Association of Taxi Operators — the umbrella group representing about 13,000 taximen across the island — its spokesperson said that the commissioner’s meeting which resulted from the demonstration was welcomed.

“We are happy he is calling the meeting…and we hope that some good will come of it because we cannot take it any longer; the problem has to be addressed,” said Egeton Newman, the association’s general secretary.

Less than six months ago, Forbes met with the members of the taxi association to discuss concerns about police brutality and harassment of taxi drivers.

The meeting averted a planned protest by cabbies, following the controversial police shooting of taxi driver, Derrick Simpson, in Spanish Town. Simpson, 25, was shot in the shoulder. Following the shooting, there was chaos and confusion in the old capital as angry residents, along with taxi operators, blocked several roads in the town. Protesters told the Observer then that the police were not provoked in any way, and claimed that the action was a direct attack on taxi drivers.