COMMUTERS working past 16:30 hrs, as is the case at many places of employment, continue to be taken advantage of by minibus operators.

And, as evidenced by an incident with three passengers in a Route 32 minibus on Monday night, the persisting trend is most frustrating.

Minibus operators on the Georgetown/Parika route are charging passengers as much as $100 extra, an increase from $200 to $300 to travel from the city to Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara; $400 to $500 for the trip to Parika, East Bank Essequibo and $100 instead of $60 for short drops.
The last was the source of contention for the Monday night trio who joined the Route 32 bus at Windsor Forest and were charged $100 when they disembarked at Den Amstel, both places on West Coast of Demerara.

A protest by the three men was prevented from getting ugly by a handful of other passengers who urged the bus conductor to charge the correct fare and he conceded after the driver instructed him to return the overcharged sum to the trio.

UNFAIR PRACTICE
One other passenger, who was among those pressing the conductor not to overcharge passengers, commented on the unfair practice against commuters who want to get home after 18:00 hrs and have no choice, but to pay the extra fare.
In early 2013, Transport Minister Robeson Benn promised an investigation into the unregulated rise in minibus charges across the various routes at nights.
Late in 2012, there was talk of the introduction of large 30-seater buses but, to date, there has been no word on the status of that initiative.
It would be recalled that, during 2011, a major strike resulted in a number of big buses being deployed around the different bus parks and working round the clock to transport members of the public, much to the chagrin of striking minibus operators.
At that time, Minister Benn also acknowledged being told of several instances of conductors and drivers physically assaulting people who were unwilling to yield to their demands.
Late in January this year, Acting Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Irfaan Ali, acknowledged the escalating problem of higher charges by public transport operators.
However, he maintained that his ministry can only advise the travelling public not to pay more.
The first incident of higher charges was reported on Route 32 last December and operators on Route 44 followed suit a few weeks after, also demanding that passengers pay $60 more.
Then, in January, Route 31 minibus and hire car operators took strike action, leaving hundreds of workers and schoolchildren stranded, as they demanded an additional $20.

NO JUSTIFICATION
Minister Ali made it known that the demand is “illegal” and said: “We continue to advise consumers that they are not to pay any increases. The increases are illegal. Consumers should report the increases to the Police or to the Ministry. There is no justification for the increases, as our advisory has said.”
He said there is a standing agreement with public transport operators, which clearly states that, in the absence of hikes in fuel prices, there cannot be higher fares.
“The Ministry of Finance is continuously making adjustments to keep gas at a certain price…there is no justification for an increase,” Ali insisted.
He reiterated his advice for commuters to report the arbitrary imposition and not pay any increase.
Unilateral fare hikes by minibus operators has been an on and off cause of concern over the last few years.

(By Vanessa Narine)