The country is really in a bad state when one hears that taxi operators are being extorted $1,200 daily by thugs without anything being done to curb the practice.

The lead story of the Thursday STAR reported that taxi operators plying the Half-Way Tree to Price Rite route are being extorted by thugs, who have positioned themselves at various lanes along the route, and collect money from the cabbies.

This has been very expensive for the taxi operators and a deterrent for them to remain in business, as they are paying out a significant portion of their profits to thugs each week.

Extortion has been a problem in our society for the longest while and continues to drive businesses, big and small, to close. This points to a need for some form of coordinated plan to attack the issue.

The police in the article say the taxi operators have not made a report. So, although they have heard rumours about the practice, they can do nothing about it. This is unacceptable, because even if the taxi operators fail to report the crime, they are aware of it and should investigate.

If all our police force intends to do is to wait until a report is made for them to do something about a problem, then the country is not going to progress.

The Government, police and people need to form a unified coalition against extortion and stamp it out. It affects everybody, and quick action today could curb the problem before it is too late.