Commuters complain minibus operators still imposing fare hike
SEVERAL minibus owners plying routes 31, 32, 41, 43, 44, 45 and 46 have declared their intention to charge commuters an additional $20 on the previously paid fares and many have already begun to impose the increase on the travelling public.
Among the myriad reasons the operators have advanced for justifying the hike is that prices for spare parts on the local market continue to rise, adding to the cost of their vehicles maintenance.
Despite many exhortations, by the United Mini-bus Union over the past few weeks, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, who has the consumer protection portfolio, has advised the public against paying more until advised by the ministry.
In a telephone interview with the Guyana Chronicle last week, President of the United Mini-bus Union, Mr. Eon Andrews said the rising cost of fuel is only one of the reasons for their demand.
“We decided that an increase was needed since fares have been the same for some time now and prices for various things, like parts and other requirements, have gone up,” he said.
However, proprietors of several spare parts stores in Georgetown deny that their merchandise have become more expensive and said the operators of public transport must be fair to commuters.
“For a long time now, the prices for spares on the market have been stable as we import most from China and Singapore,” said one proprietor, who preferred to remain anonymous.
Another such businessman said, however, that the prices of Japanese spares are, indeed, slightly higher than those coming out of China and Singapore but the latter are just as sturdy and effective.
“It all depends on what the customer wants. But to say that prices, overall, for spares have risen is not true. They have not gone up in years,” he maintained.

Agreement

Last week, when representatives of the United Mini-bus Union were justifying their demand by citing fuel prices, Minister Prashad reminded them of the agreement that fares would remain as is until the prices at the pumps exceed $1,000 per gallon.
Speaking at a press conference, earlier this week, he explained that, even though the price of crude oil on the world market has gone up, the administration has taken steps to reduce the excise tax on diesel from 20 to 15 per cent and, only last week, further reduced the gasolene excise tax by one-third, from 30 per cent to 20 per cent, with the aim of cushioning the impact of significant upward price movement observed in the world market for oil, on domestic consumers, while there is no excise tax on kerosene.
Prashad also pointed out that the fare increase being requested by the United Mini-bus Union, which is not a recognised body, has not been sanctioned by the legitimate associations, which are General Mini-bus Association, Guyana Public Transportation Association and Route 32 Mini-bus Association.
In that context, he said: “These unions have been trying to poach on these minibus associations without success but what we saw is that they told the media that they are representing these associations, which is not so and we are, again, calling on the public to desist from these illegalities. There is no increase in minibus fares.”
Prashad reiterated that the United Mini-bus Union does not represent all minibus associations as it claims.
Meanwhile, many commuters are complaining that bus operators are still charging them the extra $20.
“I have to pay the money if I want to get home. Before I got into the bus, they asked me to give them the fare so I had no choice,” lamented Gwyneth Harris as she sat in a Route 41 (Lodge/South) bus.
She said she now has to pay $120, which is $40 more than the previous fare but, while many commuters are protesting the increase, others are paying it because public transport is their only means of commuting.
“We do not have a choice although many of us cannot afford the $20 more but it is the alternative to being stranded on the road,” said Gavin Lowe, who is among those who want the authorities to devise a way of dealing with operators continuing to levy the increase.