GEORGETOWN minibus drivers on Thursday at the Square of the Revolution held a peaceful protest over the clampdown exercise by traffic police on their use of multi-coloured wraps on their vehicles.

Police stated that only drivers with coloured wraps that are not represented on their registration and fitness will be penalised. The drivers during their protest action posited that even buses sprayed in multi-coloured designs and with the colour represented on their registration had their fitness seized by police officers.

The drivers plying the South Ruimveldt, Mahaica, Sophia and Kitty route have complained that they had been unable to work for days and this was taking a toll on their pockets. They contend that no consultation was done and they were unaware as how or when the police would engage them in an effort to find a solution. “Since Monday my fitness was taken away and I can’t work, nobody ain’t coming to say anything, my bus is sprayed and the colours are on my registration and my fitness still get take away,” Ozaye , a South Ruimveldt driver exclaimed.

He further stated that the situation was a drain on his finances. “ How are we surviving, they are not telling us nothing tangible, many of the drivers out here came from the streets. I personally went to jail already and now I am working for an honest dollar and getting harass. This will push people now to go back to the streets,” the driver said.

The scores of drivers were told that three drivers who are willing to explain the situation should visit the Brickdam station to engage the Commander but they were of the opinion that the Commander should have visited the protest scene to engage all the drivers and listen to their concerns. The drivers are of the belief that having fancy buses were posing no harm to transporting passengers safely to their destinations or breaking any law. They plan to continue protesting until the situation is resolved.