…As minibus operators remain defiant
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn last night said that government has not sanctioned any increase in minibus fares and urged passengers not to be bullied into paying higher fares.
He was at the time overlooking arrangements put in place at the route 42 bus park where a number of 30-seater and larger buses were taking persons home free of cost from Georgetown to Timehri, much to the chagrin of minibus operators who held on to their demands for higher fares.
Benn said that from today there would be about 30 of the big buses deployed around the various bus parks and they would be working all day.
The minister insisted that with the reduction in excise tax on fuel, the understanding was that an increase in fares would only be considered if the price of gasoline surged past $1,000 per gallon.
The government-sponsored buses will be operating especially at peak hours and at all minibus routes for the next few days. The minister said too that he will ensure flyers with the old fares are printed and distributed at all bus parks. Some minibus operators have posted new fares in their vehicles with the demand that passengers pay on entering the bus, even before they arrive at their destinations.
According to the minister, the minibus operators must continue to engage the Minister of Tourism Manniram Prashad on discussions already ongoing, and he is willing to sit in on those discussions.
Benn was told of several instances of conductors and driver physically assaulting passengers who were unwilling to yield to their demands.