…to meet with United Minibus Union soon

BUSINESS Minister Dominic Gaskin will be meeting with the United Minibus Union (UMU) in the coming week to discuss the proposal put forward by the union for increases in minibus fares, among other requests.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle on Monday, Gaskin said that before coming to a final decision the ministry must first properly examine the reasoning and justification behind the proposal.

“We’re meeting with them next week and we will discuss their proposals. Some analysis has to be done on the rationale for the proposal,” Gaskin said.
Over a week ago, UMU President Eon Andrews had told the newspaper that apart from a proposed 25 per cent fare increase for short drops and a $40 increase for longer routes, there were several other requests within the document.
Some of these include, excise tax reductions and proper management of the importation of minibuses.

Andrews has defended the proposal by stating that the suggested increase is not influenced solely on the recent rise in fuel prices, but on the overall expenses of conducting business as a minibus operator.
These expenses include recent hikes in the costs for vehicle parts, maintenance and other necessities.

In a previous interview, Andrews had said: “We don’t’ feel that we must base our arguments on fuel because we recognise that fuel increase or decrease is really controlled by the international market…there has been astronomical increases in spare parts and other operational costs…and we can look at those things.”
To this, Gaskin said: “I’m not against what they’re proposing which is why I want to discuss it with them. But at this point we have to do a proper analysis of the increases in the cost of their operations.”

The UMU had handed over the proposal to representatives of the Business Ministry on June 11, on the basis that civil negotiations with authorities may prove for a better chance at a fruitful outcome.