TOUTS who solicit passengers continue to plague the various minibus parks in the city much to the distaste of the travelling public.

These unkempt and unmannerly people would assist bus operators to fill their vehicles for the different routes including 44, 30 and 32.
Often they hassle persons, taking away their bags or holding on to and placing them in buses of their choice for a small fee of $100 per bus.
Their presence at the parks creates confusion in an already congested area and they, often, harass commuters, including children and the elderly.
The touts were encouraged by the minibus drivers to increase the fare to $200 for route 44 buses.
The regular charge from the city to Victoria, East Coast Demerara is $120 but now residents have to pay $80 more to get home in the afternoon from 15:00 hrs.
The touts, numbering about seven are regulars at the bus parks and they announce, loudly, that $200 is the charge and one cannot enter the minibus without agreeing to pay it.
Some bus drivers do not operate with conductors and it is the touts who help them to fill their buses with passengers for which they would be paid a little more.
The situation with touts at the bus parks, particularly at the route 44 one, has become very bothersome and passengers want the authorities to get rid of those unwanted characters.
However, despite numerous telephone calls to the relevant minibus organisations, no one was available to comment on the matter yesterday.
Since the last story regarding the rise in bus fares for route 44 was published, some minibuses are charging $160, an increase of $40 while others are still demanding $200 per person.