SOME operators of route 40 mini-buses have resorted to bullying passengers into paying a fare increase, claiming it was approved by the United Mini-bus Union (UMU).
Up to yesterday morning, some of the buses carried notices inside stating that they are not in breach of any laws by raising the charges.
But Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, in an invited comment, maintained that UMU is not a recognised body and has no authority to announce increases without consultation or agreement.
He advised commuters not to pay any increases until they have been officially confirmed.
Prashad said he and representatives of Guyana Public Transportation Association (GPTA) and Guyana Mini-bus Association (GMA) have agreed there will be no rise in transportation costs.
However, a woman, Mrs. Golin Persaud, a security guard, told the Guyana Chronicle she was assaulted by the operators of BFF 4491 on Sunday evening.
“I said I was not paying the money and the conductress thumped me in my head and then the driver started to abuse me. This is not right. People are working hard for their money and just cannot pay any demand,” she complained.
Earlier, that Sunday, one driver of a route 40 mini-bus was involved in a heated argument with a passenger who boarded the vehicle and refused to pay more.
The commuter insisted there was no approved increase by Government and the driver responded that UMU is the only that has any say on increases.
“Either you pay the extra $20 or go and see a Government bus. This is a private bus and the gasolene price gone up,” the driver declared.

NOT APPROVAL

To bolster his proposition, the man showed the traveller what he said was a photocopy of a Guyana Times page on which was a headline ‘Bus fares go up by $20’ but the story underneath was about the insistence of some to raise the charge, not approval of an increase.
The passenger, subsequently, disembarked the vehicle.
Other passengers were informed that, if they wanted to travel, they had to pay the increase or go elsewhere and not wanting to be stranded, they paid what was demanded.
In another vehicle, the driver pointed to a laminated piece of paper indicating new fares to passengers before they entered.
At the top of the document was the name ‘United Mini-bus Union’ but there was no authorising signature or stamp to indicate its  authenticity.
Attempts to contact any UMU official proved futile.
In a prior interview, President of the UMU, Mr. Eon Andrews had said several operators are determined to get an increase and will be enforcing the $20 across the board hike.