Route Taxi's - Owner operator or part of a fleet?

[Rob]

Before all those Japanese cars hit the streets Latas were the car of choice for a route taxi. We used to say we were grabbing a "Lata" - now we say "we're grabbing a local".

The correct name for the old cars in Jamaica is Lada. Lada is a brand name of Russian made cars that were brought to the island during the Michael Manley administration. This was before the "deportees/Toyonda's" were brought to Jamaica in mass.

A sidenote to the name is that black grocery/store bags are often referred to as "Lada bags" by those who live here. We all used them to carry our purchases when we crowded in the next taxi... (grin)

[rastagirl777]

Just for the record...I mis-spelled it. Sorry.

Lada Bags...yeah, I'd always thought that's why they were called that - but then I'm hearing from several folks that no, that's NOT why they are called that. Now, I don't know for sure but someone said it's from the English term "Larder", and your groceries went into a "larder" bag. Just a theory. I like the car one better (grin)

The correct name for the old cars in Jamaica is Lada. Lada is a brand name of Russian made cars that were brought to the island during the Michael Manley administration. This was before the "deportees/Toyonda's" were brought to Jamaica in mass.

A sidenote to the name is that black grocery/store bags are often referred to as "Lada bags" by those who live here. We all used them to carry our purchases when we crowded in the next taxi... (grin)