ALTHOUGH fuel prices are within the $1,000 ceiling at gas stations, the minibus operators again have seized the opportunity to increase fares despite a structured arrangement was agreed to several weeks ago.Route 44 operators plying the Georgetown/Enterprise route since Tuesday demanded passengers pay $200 each in an overloaded minibus.

The demand was not met with much resistance since passengers wanted to get to their destinations and their respective homes.

The Enterprise minibus operators have taken it upon themselves to increase the fare from $140 to $200 per person as rumours of an imminent gas price increase began circulating since Tuesday.

Although gas prices are within the $1000 ceiling, those minibus operators are still demanding an increase which is very unfair to passengers as a structured fare was favoured weeks ago.

The United Minibus Union represented the Route 44 operators on September 18 at a meeting with Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali, following protest action and a structured fare was agreed and implemented, some unscrupulous minibus operators are still demanding an increase.

The fare hike is being demanded in the afternoon period, especially during the ‘rush hour’ and at nights when fewer minibuses are operating, commuters reported.

But for once some honest minibus operators plying the Georgetown/Victoria route are accepting the regular fare of $10 to $160, depending on the destination.

The new fare structure for Georgetown-Mahaica route become effective on September 2014 following the meeting with the minibus operators and the United Minibus Union.

A press statement said all operators must place in their minibuses the published fare structure and commuters are advised not to pay any fare in excess.

Ali told the press that it has been several months now that the Ministry has been monitoring the present situation of fare hikes and unfair treatment of commuters by minibus operators.

“Over the past months we have been receiving many complaints from commuters in relation to the imposition of fares that were not sanctioned by the Ministry or any authority that has jurisdiction in terms of the setting of fares,” Ali said.

He also reported that there were many meetings between the Ministry and the minibus operators and their representatives and there was an agreement that “once the gas prices at the GuyOil (Guyana Oil Company) stations, which the Government controls, is less than a $1,000 then the increase in fares would not become necessary.”

He related that the government took all the necessary measures to make sure that the gas prices are kept below $1,000 and still some of the operators have tried to increase their fares.

UNAUTHORISED FARES

Ali, however, emphasised that “if unauthorised fares are demanded, commuters are within their rights to refuse to pay and are urged to take note of the minibus number and report the matter to the relevant authority. Also if at any time commuters are refused entry into a minibus that demands a higher fare than published, commuters should again take that bus number and report it to the law enforcement representatives.”
Use file photo of minibus operators.