WITH new bus fares for public transportation taking effect from Saturday, some are in agreement that perhaps it is time for an increase in the fares; however, some are questioning what exactly the original bus fares were, since some of the current bus fares were part of illegal fare hikes a few years ago.

The Ministry of Business last Thursday released the new bus fare structures for minibus routes 31, 31, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48. The listing displayed old bus fares and what the new agreed bus fares would be.

However, many took to social media to dispute what was listed as the old bus fares, while some even commented that they had already been paying the new bus fares for some time now and may have been getting robbed.

Some also expressed dissatisfaction with loud music and overcrowding in some buses and want the authorities to look into these matters.

“A long time ago they increase the bus fare when they weren’t supposed to increase it, but they maintained that, so persons were paying that extra $20 when they weren’t supposed to, and now they’re adding another $20, so this is actually an unnecessary amount they’re adding on,” said University of Guyana student Joseph Seguina.
In late 2013 and early 2014 many bus routes, including the 31, 32, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, and 47 bus routes started to implement fare increases.

At that time the fare was $60 for the short drop at routes 40, 41, 45, 46, and 47 and it was raised to $80; the 31 route was raised from $140 to $160, while the 32 bus route received varying increases for different distances.

The Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika route was raised to the $300 that the Ministry of Business is quoting as the old fare.

However, at the time, those fare increases were deemed illegal by the then government and passengers were advised to make complaints and refrain from paying the increases.
Nonetheless, in some routes, passengers were strong-armed by the drivers and relented.
The fare hikes for the 44 route was eventually sanctioned by government; however, the other routes were never given the green light on their increases.
“The original old fares was $60 for short drop so it’s now supposed to be $80, but I now seeing that they saying a $100. The bus men them had unofficially raised it to $80 for short drops, when it was supposed to be $60, so they probably told the ministry representatives at the meeting that that’s what the fare is, when it isn’t,” remarked Kerwyn Murray, who said he remains confusedover the new fares as it would mean a $40 increase not $20.

WORRYING
Murray, who lives on the West Coast, uses mostly the 32 and 44 bus routes. He also questions how this rise in bus fares would affect the afternoon bus fares, since, after certain hours bus drivers take the bus fares at their own discretion.
“At nights from when evening set in around 06:30 -07:00 hrs, the West Coast buses charge $300 a head to go up to Tuschen, when it’s supposed to be $200, so I’m wondering what the fare will be when I get off work tonight to go home.”
Shemicl Jordan from Den Amstel, also utilising the 32 bus route, also expressed concerns.
“I am against the raising of fares. Sometimes going to class I don’t have enough, because I though the fare was $200, but then at nights they’re taking $300, and that affects me badly, and now with the fare raising to $340 [to Parika] I don’t know what will happen,” she noted.

Using most the 44 route buses and short drop routes around Georgetown,
Tessa, a school teacher who uses the route 44 buses, said she is in agreement with the fare hike but slammed some operators for increasing their fares even though an increase was not sanctioned.

“Bus fare raise from today, but since last week up the East Coast you were paying additional $20, we used to pay $120, but we paid $140. But I don’t mind because as everything else high, the cost of living is high and everybody would want something to suit their business, to make a profit. It would not affect me much though, because I drive most of the time, I travel by bus because I want to see sometimes how things are on the bus,” said Fernandes.