By Alva Solomon

THE public transportation system at Mabaruma was yesterday morning brought to a halt after mini-bus and hire-car drivers parked their vehicles citing police harassment from a young traffic rank in the North-West District area.The motorists allege that the officer, who was transferred to the area some six-eight months ago, has charged several drivers, resulting in them paying fines ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 for various traffic violations.
The bus operators and hire-car drivers parked their vehicles at the usual 07:00hrs-08:00hrs rush-hour period yesterday, leaving many persons without any means of transportation.
The action of the motorists almost resulted in a total shutdown of the public transportation network at the interior location, which has become highly dependent on the vehicles to travel across the sub-region in recent years.
Dexter King, a motorist who was vociferous on the issue, told the Guyana Chronicle that some 16 buses operate on the roadway between Mabaruma, Hosororo Hill and the remote community of Wauna and other communities along the routes.
The vehicles usually collect passengers at the business community of Kumaka, which is the sub-region’s main business hub.
King alleged that the traffic rank had been making “ridiculous” charges, ranging from “illegal” stops to collect passengers as well as parking in the cramped Kumaka Waterfront area. One motorist reported that he was fined for having a piece of carbon fibre on his car’s bonnet. Another reported that he believed the drivers were “targeted” especially at 15:00hrs(3pm) on weekdays when they collect schoolchildren.
King said Tuesday’s action by the motorists were taken out of frustration, since the drivers believed the rank was taking advantage of them. Reports are that on Monday six to eight minibus drivers were charged and paid fines ranging from $7,500, to $45,000 for traffic offences.
The situation resulted in many workers and schoolchildren being forced to walk several miles to and from work and school, including the North-West Secondary School students at Mabaruma.
Motorists reported that the regional authorities met with them and a police Inspector yesterday morning to avert a total shutdown of the transportation network in the area.
Mabaruma and its neighbouring communities have experienced a significant climb in hire cars and mini-buses operating on the roadways in recent years, as many persons have discovered the venture can be lucrative, including on the busier days when the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) ferry docks at Kumaka. The minibus operations are not regularised, as no established routes have been named for the area.
Meanwhile, persons at Mabaruma yesterday called on the authorities to re-open the certifying office at the police station there. The sub-region has been without a certifying officer for almost nine months and persons who wish to renew their vehicle fitness documents among others, are forced to do so in Georgetown.
The motorists noted yesterday that the strike might continue for the rest of this week, if their concerns were not addressed, including the removal of the traffic rank, as well as the absence of a certifying officer.