…Minibus union objects to arbitrary increases
…condemns drivers bullying colleagues

THE United Minibus Union (UMU) says it is against recent fare hikes by several minibus operators, and advises operators to adhere to the 2014 agreement until the body discusses a new structured price system with the relevant authorities.
Recent increases in fuel prices have resulted in protests from minibus operators of different routes, including the burning of tyres on the Coldingen Public Road on the East Cost Demerara. In a press meeting at the Critchlow Labour College on Friday, UMU President, Eon Andrews discussed the matter with several minibus operators plying the West and East Demerara routes.
The general complaint has been that the escalating fuel prices is causing a strain on the livelihood of hundreds of operators, as is the high cost of vehicle maintenance. As such, several minibuses have increased their fares.

ADHERE TO THE FARES

In response to the issue, Andrews said that although the UMU must look out for its members, it cannot disregard commuters, as the transportation industry cannot survive without the support of its customers. As such, he made it clear that the body does not support recent fare hikes, or the gross overloading of minibus and obstructive protests meted out by some operators. He presented civil negotiations with the authorities as a more fruitful alternative. “The Union is very concerned that there could be a frantic increase in minibus fares, which obviously would impact on the travelling public who happens to be the poorer classes in our society who are already struggling to make ends meet,” Andrews said, adding:
“It is not for the minibus industry and its members to just decide that they must and should raise fares. We think that there must be discussions; things must be done in a very civil manner.”
He stated that minibus operators must adhere to the fare structure agreed upon in 2014 by the Union and the then Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce. Andrews says that the fare structure for each minibus must be visibly displayed on vehicles, and passengers should be wary of entering a minibus in its absence, lest they be subjected to paying exorbitant fares.
He also reminded those at the meeting that the pre-agreed seating capacity must be maintained. If order within the sector is not maintained, Andrews says, it is has the potential to result in “new levels of indiscipline that, over time, may be accepted as a norm.”
The UMI says, too, that it is only fair to acknowledge that a rise in fuel prices should not dictate a rise in fares, as minibuses require more than fuel to operate on a daily basis. As such, he says the government cannot be blamed for the high prices of vehicle equipment, which is largely controlled by the decisions of private businesses.
Nonetheless, he said that the government can still position itself to assist stakeholders in the sector. “The business sector, more or less, owns and controls the stores that the transportation sector engages in business for the maintenance of their vehicles… But, we are certain that the government can come up with a plan that will benefit all stakeholders in the transportation sector.”

OTHER CHALLENGES
The current ‘free market’ system of the minibus industry also presents a longstanding challenge, which the representatives say results in vehicle overcrowding at the park, which only has a capacity to hold a limited amount of buses. In addition to this, they say that several minibuses in operation are controlled by business persons who have no other agenda than to collect their share of returns at the end of the day. This contributes to a lack of cooperation between minibus operators and the UMU, whereby Andrews says the majority participate in matters of the Union only when it serves their personal interest.
The UMU says that while an “exemplary relationship” is shared with the government, it is unsure which department it must approach to address the matter, as the Tourism Ministry’s Commerce Department has indicated tjat it no longer negotiates on matters of the Union. Nonetheless, by next Tuesday, the UMI intends to write an official letter to the Ministry of Business requesting a formal meeting to discuss a structured price system and other pressing matters.