MINIBUS operators belonging to the United Minibus Union have been protesting, since last week, the Home Affairs Ministry’s clampdown on ‘mag rims’ on wheels, which the ministry says are being used mostly for style rather than safety. Union President Eon Andrews is of the firm view that the Guyana Police Force needs to approach and address issues affecting minibus operators more methodically.
Andrews also stated that the most effective method to bring change with regard to the way minibuses operate is to involve persons who would most likely be affected – the owners and operators.
He added that although no timeline has been set for drivers to comply with the instruction to change mag rims on their vehicles or forfeit their road service licences, the police campaign is being carried out in such a manner as to portray minibus drivers as being in some breach of the law, when mag rims are legally imported.
He opined that if there is a law that has to do with wheels and tyres extending beyond vehicles’ fenders, then it should have been rigorously enforced over a specific period of time.
Mentioning that minibus owners/operators will start to feel victimized and behave unprofessionally when police pull in the minibuses because of their mag rims, Andrews suggested that the police engage the union in a discussion, and issue an ultimatum requesting the minibus operators to comply with the MoHA instruction within a given deadline.
His opinion is, that the police are approaching the issue erroneously, especially, because they are pulling in minibuses with mag rims, and treating operators in a discourteous manner.
Andrews thinks that a proper discussion with the Guyana Minibus Union would enable its members to better appreciate the Ministry’s request, and put them in a better position to comply when the law is made official.
He said the union has been seeking legal advice on the way forward for its members, as the union does not want a situation in which commuters or stakeholders in the transport sector are adversely affected.
More than 70 buses working the Georgetown to Parika and Parika to Vreed-en-Hoop routes have had their fitness revoked by traffic ranks two Wednesdays ago. Those ranks have been citing a breach of Regulation 121 of the laws that relate to traffic, under which minibuses are required to have an overall width of six feet, three inches.
However, according to one traffic official, many Route 32 buses were in default of this regulation, but have not been prosecuted. Nevertheless, they are simply being encouraged to comply with the regulation.
But the minibus operators accuse the Home Affairs Ministry, the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department, and ranks attached to the West Demerara Police Station of victimising them and causing further hardship in the lives of Guyanese people.
The angry Route 32 drivers parked their empty buses in front of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) office at Leonora, West Coast Demerara in protest at what they called “unexpected and impulsive police action”.
One of those drivers, Ricky Persaud, stated that there was no consultation between the operators and the Ministry of Home Affairs, through the Guyana Police Force Traffic Department.
He believes the police should have met with minibus operators to discuss the importance of using smaller wheels, as against the broad mag rim wheels, and outline a specific period by which the change ought to be implemented.