COMMUTERS traversing the East Coast Demerara corridor continue to face hardships via public transportation, as minibus operators continue to demand an increase in fares.

Minibus operators continue to demand $200 fare, an increase of $80 from the city to as far as Golden Grove.

Typically, on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after 17:00 hrs, the driver of a minibus on the Enmore bus park told commuters that if they wanted him to take them home, they must pay $200 each.

Most of them, in dismay, agreed to pay, stating that they were waiting at the location for some time, and wanted to reach their respective homes before nightfall.

This is the trend most minibus operators adopt, although the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce issued a press release on Monday stating that minibus fares have not increased.

Minibus operators usually capitalise on the situation, moreso in the afternoons, when the ‘rush hour’ is on and workers who are stranded at various bus parks want to get home.

Most passengers acquiesce to the demands of the minibus operators because it is imperative that they get home, and they just pay the increase.

Those who opt not to pay are left stranded on the bus parks for many hours, until they, too, submit to the demands of the minibus operators.

The culture of minibus operators has become more predatory within recent times. Some have their favoured passengers, especially during the afternoon hours, and the rest of the travelling public, who are not so well-known, have to wait a bit longer to get home.

At the Victoria bus park, if a passenger doesn’t know a minibus driver or conductor, that passenger cannot get home easily. This situation obtains at most bus parks, because minibus operators act with favouritism and transport people whom they know.

Taxi drivers are not exempted from this negative behaviour. They, too, have hiked their fares, mostly at nights, and they charge as much as $500 to take a passenger from Georgetown to Melanie in their vehicle.

The travelling public — that is, the average man in the street — needs relief, and is appealing to the authorities to address the situation of public transportation, so that people can travel in relative ease, without the hassle of paying an increase every day.