Thousands of urban taxi drivers took to the streets of Nicosia today, sending a loud message to the government. From 7 a.m., taxis lined up at the GSP stadium and marched toward the Ministry of Transport, the House of Representatives and the Presidential Palace.
The mobilisation followed the expiry of a three-day ultimatum issued by the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Urban Taxis. On 4 March, the Committee sent a letter to Transport Minister Alexis Vafeadis, the Justice Minister, the Licensing Authority and the Chief of Police, demanding specific legislative interventions.
At the heart of the protest lies the illegal activity of “pirate” taxis — private vehicles operating without a licence, snatching passengers at ports, airports and central squares. Professional drivers say this practice has stripped them of a significant share of their income.
At the same time, the drivers are taking aim at certain ride-hailing apps, accusing them of violating the base-area regime and creating unfair competition. They also point to misleading websites advertising unlicensed taxi services.
Beyond competition, drivers are raising issues of basic working conditions. At the parking areas of Larnaca and Paphos airports, they say, there is no basic infrastructure — no recycling bins, no access to toilets. “We demand basic respect,” they stress in their letter.
The professionals warn that unless substantial changes are made, the strikes will become “dynamic and indefinite,” holding the state solely responsible for any disruption to transport, tourism and the economy.
