THE University of Guyana branch of the United Minibus Union (UMU), in a pioneering spirit yesterday, became the first group of minibus operatives to begin wearing zone uniforms, in keeping with a recommendation made more than one year ago.

Shortly before noon yesterday, about 60 of the  minibus drivers, including many who have been plying the Avenue of the Republic-University of Guyana Turkeyen route for more than 15 years, turned up at minibus park outside the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST) smartly attired and ready for  take-off.
The smartly attired operatives wore specially designed  green jerseys and caps, bearing the Union’s logo, setting themselves distinctly apart from other bus drivers they have dubbed ‘hustlers’ on the route.
“We want to publicly dissociate ourselves from those drivers who are ‘hot plate runners’; those who  refuse to join the line of minibuses and wait their turn, but ‘bore’ their way through, even at the expense of the safety of students attempting to get onto the buses, or with no regard for the damage they could cause to other buses,” the uniformed drivers said.
They claim that there are times when the UG-Industry buses in the line at Turkeyen are outnumbered by as many as 15 ‘touting  or ‘hustling buses and that the ‘touters’ would even dare to take the passengers out of the UG-Industry buses.

The drivers, declaring that enough was enough, said they can no longer condone the acts of lawlessness demonstrated by the errant drivers.
In this regard, at noon yesterday, the drivers accompanied by President of the UMU, Mr. Eon Andrews and President of the UG Drivers’ Branch Association, Mark Delima went to Assistant Registrar of the University of Guyana, Mr. Vincent Alexander to inform him about their planned course of action and proposals to “put themselves in order.”
Among the proposals put to the UG administration are: they are requesting that ‘hustling’ bus drivers be taken off the route until they put themselves in order; the university’s permission to design and place stickers bearing the name ‘University of Guyana’ on their buses. They are also seeking to have the UG-Industry buses they operate to cease carrying the Route No.44. The men maintained that they are depending on the UG administration and student population for support.
The UG drivers recalled that previously they were allowed to take their buses as far as the UG tarmac, but because of the unsavoury  behaviour of  ‘hustling and unaffiliated’ drivers whose behaviour
constituted a noise nuisance on  campus, even during exams, all minibuses were restricted from going beyond  the IAST compound.
“We do not carry overload; we don’t play music, don’t do anything to breach the law, and those fellows are giving us a bad name,” one of the legitimate UG/Industry drivers said. But what they consider unfair to them is that whenever sanctions are applied, the ‘hustling drivers’ don’t have a bother, since they arbitrarily show up anywhere  and ‘make a dollar’
“And this thing going on for years. When they do these things and move on, it is we who left in the problem and they gone and drive somebody else bus.  So we want to wear this uniform proudly. We want to stand up and be recognised. We don’t want anybody to tarnish our image,” another of the UG drivers said.
Asked for a response to these allegations and how they felt about the new uniforms, some of the other  drivers at the UG bus park claimed they are not going to join the Union because “when pressure comes”  the Union would leave them on their own. Asked to name the union which operates that way, the men could not answer, but insisted they are not going to become unionised and they are not interested in wearing any uniform.
Meanwhile, President of the UMU outlined that there are 14 routes represented by the union as far as Route 63 Corentyne, as well as Bartica and other far flung areas.“But what the Union has embarked upon, is to try to get some kind of formal arrangement as it relates to these routes, in that they ought to be uniformed. This is the University of Guyana – the highest institution of learning in the county, and obviously, our drivers who are providing such an important service for these people at the university, ought to be recognised in a special way,” Andrews reasoned.
Noting that the issue of uniforms for the UG branch was being addressed for some time, Andrews complimented the new UG branch executive for their swift mobilisation and being able to get things done efficiently and effectively. He said the Union is also looking to have the drivers identified by placing names on their badges.
Andrews said in every way things will be forward-looking under this new arrangement. “There will be more discipline and order amongst drivers. And the orderly arrangement of buses on the campus will also enhance the ambience which makes for a good international university campus. This is just the beginning of things.  There are many other things we plan to do as a branch, but this is where we start,” Andrews said.