IF you are a regular commuter on the roadways in Guyana you probably have travelled in a mini-bus, and saw a conductor or driver hurrying an elderly or disabled person to either get on or off a bus; some may have even refused to pick them up.

Eletha Ainsworth, an elderly woman of Cove and John who depends primarily on public transportation to get about her monthly errands, expressed displeasure over the treatment she receives while travelling.

Mrs Ainsworth uses a cane for support as she has a bad knee; she says “whenever they [conductors] see me with my stick, they don’t stop for me.”

The few that do stop are often impatient and rude, “always rushing, they never wait for us to have a seat, they just drive off, which result in us being jilted back and front, causing pain and when it’s time for us to get off at our destination, they’re always saying push yah body granny,” she explained.

She also complained about the loud and vulgar music that is often blasting through the speakers of the mini-buses.

Shelia Glasgow, an 85-year-old woman of Belfield, recalled a time when she was younger and would travel in the comfort of big buses; she added that a system should be implemented to provide transportation not only for the elderly, but also disabled persons.
“However, this is not always the case; they are a few mini-bus drivers and conductors who are considerate and kind, realising that they too will get old one day,” she stated.

Several other elderly persons complained about the speeding and overloading of the mini-buses. Many of them prefer to stay at home because of the unsafe feeling while travelling. In the early 1960s, big buses were the most popular mode of transportation, throughout Guyana. However, today modern mini-buses like ‘Pit bulls and R-Zs’ dominate the roadways of Guyana. Many of these are privately owned and operated by young men, who have little to no respect for passengers, especially the elderly and disabled.

This newspaper interviewed several elderly persons, who recollected the time when they would travel in the comfort of big buses and would welcome the re-introduction of these buses for their transportation.

While this may seem like an excellent initiative, it can pose a threat to the current mini-bus operators or privately owned bus companies such as Knight Rider.

Simultaneously, a system should be in place to provide better transportation for the elderly and disabled.

The Guyana Chronicle spoke with President of the Minibus Association, Eon Andrews, who stressed that a system should be implemented to provide the disabled and elderly with transportation as he has had several complains from citizens; however, the introduction of big buses will pose a threat to the mini-bus association.

He added that Guyanese first have to eradicate the culture of having inexperienced and unlicensed drivers on the roadways.

However, the United Minibus Association, along with the Ministry of Business and Social Protection, has been hosting road safety workshops and training sessions to produce better drivers on the roads of Guyana. He noted that persons who attended the training sessions are expected to graduate in October of this year.

Mr Andrews also noted that mini-bus drivers and conductors are expected to be respectable and display patience, not only to the elderly or disabled, but to every passenger that enters their minibus.