Antigua Taxi Drivers Protest City Council Over Unfair Competition in Public Service

The Antigua taxi association, chaired by Juan Antonio Fránquiz, has taken the matter to the Provincial Council, demanding explanations for a €50,000 grant it says it never received and for a chat in which its justification was allegedly inflated. The managers of the service‑management system have responded quickly, denying the accusations and requesting a face‑to‑face meeting with Fránquiz to clarify the details.

Background and the Split of the Association

The Antigua taxi collective, led by Juan Antonio Fránquiz, recalls that the dispute began when the association voted not to adopt the innovative service‑management tool that most of its members use. This decision led to a split and the creation of a second entity, the Association of Taxis of Caleta de Fuste Antigua Primera, headed at the time by former president Paco Vera, which started operating independently of the original group.

Fránquiz claims that the town hall has taken a “clear position” in favor of the second entity, to the detriment of the original association, which has since lost its majority status.

Request for Information and the Signage Conflict

December 2024: The Antigua taxi association submitted a formal request to the town hall asking why signage belonging to the service‑management company was allowed on public shelters and taxi stands.
No response was received for more than a year and a half.
The association then placed its own informational posters (identical in size to those of the rival association) displaying contact numbers in the same locations.
22 April 2026: The town hall finally responded, demanding that the association remove the posters within five days, labeling them as “advertising.”

The taxi drivers replied that the signs were purely informational, not promotional. After months of silence from the council—no replies to any letters since 2022—Fránquiz’s association filed a complaint with the Provincial Council this week, marking the second appeal after an unsuccessful attempt in 2025.

Impact on Tourists and Residents

The documentation submitted by the association highlights how the alleged unfair competition harms both locals and visitors:

“Customers who request a taxi via the municipal service number 928 16 30 04 receive an automatic SMS directing them to contact the rival association’s phone.”

The association says this practice uses a database built from November 2023 to November 2024.

Additionally, the promoters of the rival service have sent letters to hotels in the El Castillo area encouraging guests to use a mobile app in exchange for points and travel rewards. The taxi association argues that:

More hotels are abandoning its services, hurting drivers and tourists alike.
“Because hotels work with only one association, tourists sometimes wait 40 minutes for a taxi—an absurd situation that damages the destination’s image.”

Suspicions of Irregularities Involving the €50,000 Grant

Among the documents sent to the Provincial Council is a notification from the Tax Agency concerning a named subsidy approved by the town hall in October 2024. According to Fránquiz:

The €50,000 grant never reached the association, although the Tax Agency still demanded repayment.
The agreement had to be canceled to avoid paying back money that was never received.

Fránquiz demands to know where the funds went.

His allegations are reinforced by a chat group that included dozens of taxi professionals before the split. In that chat, the administrator allegedly admitted to inflating the budget to justify the subsidy:

The justification listed purchases of computer equipment and other items totaling €62,333.69.
The administrator reportedly said: “These items have been inflated as any company does when applying for subsidies, to cover the maximum approved amount.”
He further added: “This is done everywhere; it’s no secret or mystery that will come to light.”
Finally, he confessed: “I inflated everything because it would be verifiable in case of an inspection, as the items exist tangibly.”

Two Associations and “Free‑Riding” Drivers

Fránquiz is outraged that, with the town hall’s alleged support, two separate associations now exist, and six or seven drivers operate “freely,” using the management system without paying the required fees. He also reports drivers running “races” from El Castillo to Puerto del Rosario for €15, completely bypassing official tariffs.

He reiterates long‑standing demands for the town hall to update taxi tariffs, which have not changed in over 13 years.

Call for a Face‑to‑Face Meeting

The managers of the service‑management system have denied all accusations and have asked for a direct meeting with Juan Antonio Fránquiz to resolve the matter. They provide a certificate showing that, as of 11 May 2026, the Association of Taxis of Caleta de Fuste has 21 members, making it the majority association in the municipality.

They also claim that the grant issue stems from an error made by the original association before the split, implying that the association should have been aware of the problem before making a public complaint.