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Our first stop was the East Coast/Bebice bus-car park and concealing our cameras, we waited for the stampede to begin. Our wait was not for long, since, the minute a passenger seemed to walk in the direction of the buses, the touts took off in their direction as if they were running a hundred meters sprint. What followed was the pulling of bags and tugging of arms and the would-be-passengers were treated like rag- dolls. Gone are the days when passengers had the freedom of choice, or the liberty of entering whichever bus they desired without having to endure the ‘Guyanese Jurassic Park’ which the touts have transformed the bus parks into.
At the Sophia bus park, ‘things’ were even worse as both adults and schoolchildren were subjected to the same raucous and crude treatment from the touts who are unapologetic in their unrelenting and annoying demand. And on this park it seemed as if the touts were ready to throttle individuals who refused to travel with their selected buses.
Passengers who refused to be bullied were awarded a violent ‘cuss out’ from the touts who mouthed horrible obscenities during the process.
It would appear as if Guyana could produce quite a few star athletes from all the running the touts at the Linden bus parks do during the day. Here, both touts and conductors spilled onto the streets, and even targeted buses emptying passengers at other parks in their frantic bid to hike their earning capacity.
As soon as a passenger as much as turned their head in the direction of the Linden bus park, the touts rushed towards them. The vulnerable individuals who may not even be going to Linden are sometimes forced to endure the sweaty bodies and other discomforts as the touts shout and scream at them in their faces, and pull at their bodies and bags. In their mad rush, many times the touts slam into passengers causing significant trauma.
VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC
Interacting with several passengers and onlookers regarding this issue, it was realized that it is a case where passengers are at the mercy of the touts since the relevant authorities do not appear to be doing enough to deal with the issue of passenger harassment by touts. The sporadic, small scale crackdowns by the police have proven to be an inadequate response.
Pamela Hutson stood outside Quality Fast Food outlet at the East Coast Park viewing the melee as she waited for things to cool down before attempting to board a Berbice-bound minibus.
Commenting on the situation she noted that the uncouth behaviour of some minibus conductors and touts have really taken away her joy of travelling. “I am tired of this whole thing and I am very alarmed that nothing is being done to curb the behaviour of the touts on these bus parks. No more can we travel in peace as passengers, and the thought of all these smelly and sweaty men, pulling and tugging just drives me nuts.”
This lawlessness which is prevalent on the streets in Georgetown, not just by the minibus drivers and conductors but the touts who impose their services on people on a daily basis, is very disturbing to the travelling public.
As a commuter who uses public transportation regularly, Mahaicony resident Sheldon Byass is very disgusted by the constant harassment of passengers by the ‘touts’. He was very outspoken in ridiculing their conduct and highlighted concerns regarding the opportunities for robberies which their behaviour promote.
“There are many cases where touts pull and tug at passengers to get them into buses they want them to enter. In the confusion some touts steal wallets and other belongings from unsuspecting passengers. This problem is increasing and it is time for it to stop. Some go as far as throwing their arms over passengers’ shoulder which may not be appreciated by many.”
A fiery grandmother, Euigene Semple, travelling to Linden could barely speak because of the anger consuming her, as she pointed out the annoying attitude of the touts.
“I am tired of the behaviour of these hooligans. Not forgetting the conductors, they too continue to overload the minibuses even though they are full. Enough has been said and raised about touts and conductors who continue to break our laws. It is time that our law enforcers clamp down on this pressing issue, which to me has become of little interest to them.”
From all appearances it seemed as if there was no order of any kind or discipline at any of the bus parks and there was a significant lack of order at the Georgetown-Patentia bus park.
Some operators deliberately park their buses in the line so as to prevent any forward movement. This practice allows chosen buses from the back of the line to come out of the said line and replace ones that are filled and departing at the front.
Another deliberate act seen at this park is that some operators and conductors are teaming-up with the usually rude touts to bully and take away passengers to fill the buses of their choice.
IMPACT ON TOURISM
In the wake of so much focus at all levels on strategies for boosting the tourism sector, one might find the operations of the touts quite alarming.
Bus driver Shannon Carew plying the East Bank Demerara route contends that such behaviour has grave concerns for tourism if this situation is allowed to continue.
“If we allow this to continue how will we be able to survive? And further, how will we be able to attract foreigners, investors and tourists (all of whom we so badly need) to this beautiful land of ours when there is always pulling, tugging, loud and abusive language, and disrespect for commuters and their property, not to mention fighting constantly in this particular bus park.”
Meanwhile, some drivers are calling for the urgent intervention of the relevant authority to implement a system that will enforce orderly queues with the presence of an officer to enforce law and order, so that buses will arrive and depart in an orderly and timely manner. They are also calling for Government’s intervention to have the issue of the touts addressed and resolved once and for all.
