Dear Editor,
FOR too long commuters are being forced to endure abuse by mini-bus touts and operators. Despite various strategies introduced by the Guyana Police Force, they always seem to be outfoxed and the daily harassment continues on commuters. Approaching the festive season last year, one of the best campaigns was launched by the Guyana Police Force, much to the relief of commuters, but with the assistance of mini-bus unions, especially the United Minibus Union, the crackdown against touts and operators harassing commuters was halted due to promises made. Today, not a fraction of what he promised has materialised and the treatment is very much the same.

Editor, I was very much pleased to see the operators and touts operating at the Sophia, Kitty and Campbellville parks decked out in what looked like uniforms with the approval of the mini-bus union, but consistency is lacking.  At the back of the jersey, the designation printed and the touts are designated as ‘dispatcher.’ I know that dispatcher is totally different, but I was still happy, thinking that order would prevail. Incidentally, during the past week I was privileged to be travelling almost everyday and had to use the route 48 mini-buses and during that process, witnessed first hand the behaviour of the operators. I saw one driver claiming to be the secretary of the union on the phone issuing orders for the jersey to be taken away from the tout (dispatcher), because he refused to load the bus on which the secretary was working. I got into an exchange of words with one driver because of the physical tugging and pulling. The touts could be seen being the ‘hot plates’ buses at the front of the line and loading them. When one of the buses in the line was filled, they have to wait until the ‘hot plate’ bus was filled.

Finally Editor, I was in high praises for the police and their operation to get rid of this lawlessness and the union concocted a plan so that lawlessness prevails. Today, commuters are still physically being forced into buses; verbally abused; still being forced to sit in overloaded buses and witness some of the most vulgar displays by operators. The officials of the union are also working buses and are  seeing these behaviours, but are not saying anything. I am urging the GPF to embark on the operation again and disregard the union, because despite its promises, everything remains the same or at some parks, worse. There’s no law allowing touting and they should be made to leave the parks.
Regards,
Sahadeo Bates