Two taxi drivers were beaten by thugs in Spanish Town, St Catherine, over the weekend, one in full view of policemen who reportedly turned their backs while the beating was being administered, THE STAR understands.

The cabbies were reportedly beaten after failing to pay extortion money that is usually collected from them in the bus park, residents and taxi drivers told THE STAR. It is understood that one of the cabbies was being beaten for a second time as he was also attacked last week.

One of the victims was beaten on Friday night and the other late Saturday morning. The state of the cabbies' injuries is not known but police have since arrested two men in connection with the beating. The taxi men temporarily withdrew their service on Saturday shortly after the second beating at which the police were allegedly present. The withdrawal affected commuters travelling the Eltham and Gordon Pen routes.

fed up

The disgruntled cabbies told THE STAR they are fed up of being beaten by the men who they are paying $150 per day to work in the park, located along March Pen Road.

"Last week them beat up one of the driver because a man want to tek him money out of him pocket and him box off him hand, last night again them attacked him, beat and stab him in his head,'' one of the protesting cabbies told THE STAR.

One commuter said he was waiting for a bus when he saw several men chasing a taxi driver who they held and started beating. He said a few metres from where the beating was occurring he saw a policeman with his back turned as the crowd gathered.

The cabbies took their protest to the Spanish Town Police Station and vouched not to return to work until the police could guarantee their safety. This resulted in the police taking two of the alleged beaters into custody. Up to late yesterday, they were not charged.

An inspector at the Spanish Town Police Station told THE STAR that more arrests could be made as the police will be following up on the reports of the taxi drivers to bring those creating mischief in the park to justice.

For years, an extortion ring, involving businesses and public-passenger vehicles, has been operating in Spanish Town. The extortionists collect money from businesses for protection and the bus and taxi operators have to pay to use the bus park.