EVER since the scrapping of the Demerara-Essequibo railway in the mid-1970s, Public transportation from the West Demerara to Georgetown had been thrown into a quandary, and with a growing population, the situation is getting more and more intolerable. To compound the problem, public transportation has been entrusted into private hands, and with that came the minibus culture.
I wish to state very clearly that we are not in any way against this mode of transportation being put into the hands of private individuals, but rather, like John Public, I take offence at the slip-shod manner in which this very vital service is being carried out. I echo the sentiments of the public at large that there need to be some sort of uniformity in the service.
I note that thousands of commuters from the West Demerara and Essequibo make use of the minibus service to get to Georgetown. These are working people, schoolchildren, businessmen and marketing villagers (farmers and vendors who hawk vegetables, fruits and ground provision among other produce in Georgetown), and are compelled to use the service.
I wish to make specific mention of the route 32 buses, at least, since the beginning of this year. These buses seem to be functioning on a special fare structure (not official), and the drivers, conductors and owners are brazenly taking part in this exercise. As far as I know, bus fares have not been increased for any of the destinations from the West Demerara to Georgetown.
Editor, the stark reality, however, is that the fares differ in the mornings and afternoons. For instance, when the fare to travel from Cornelia Ida to Georgetown is $140, the bus operators accept that fare structure in the mornings, but anytime after mid-day, they demand $200 from Georgetown to the same destination. This is indeed the situation with other destinations. This is wrong and should not be. This sordid state of affairs has been allowed to go on for too long.
As far as I am aware that same fare structure as authorized by the Government is $140 each way, and no official announcement has been made advising an increase in the fare. This is a unilateral decision taken by the operators of these buses who more often than not, hold the travelling public at ransom.
Apart from this, there are a few buses that carry only Parika passengers simply because of the large sums the operators demand from commuters. This is totally wrong and unacceptable. I am firmly of the view that like in Georgetown, the route 32 buses should not discriminate, but instead take passengers to any destination within its designated route. It means therefore that if the route 32 buses have a road service to work from Georgetown to Parika and vice versa, they should be able to take passengers from any point along that route, and must not be done at the whims and fancies of the operators.
The Government ought to look into this matter urgently as commuters, especially those who are obliged to travel on a daily basis are fleeced by these operators. These minibus operators believe that the public is obliged to travel with them regardless of the circumstances, but as far as I know it is the other way around, and that they (bus operators) must be mindful of the fact that they have been granted licences to provide this mode of transportation to the public, and they should honour the stipulations expected from them in the issuance of their permit to operate the service.
For too long, these people have been allowed to work to suit their fancy. But this is wrong, and they must be told so by officialdom. The double standard in the fare structure (not official) is something new, and if the competent authority does not intervene, the fares would increase automatically. They must understand that the commuters also have rights and they must refuse to pay extra fare which is not included in the authorized fare structure.
Perhaps, if there is not one yet, the Government should come up with a clear policy on transportation.
I think that such a move would help to improve the minibus transport system not only on the West Demerara alone, but indeed the entire country.
Editor, please publish this letter as early as possible as this matter is getting worse with each passing day.