TRAFFIC Chief Linden Isles is urging minibus operators and commuters to adhere to the precautionary measures when travelling to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
During an invited comment, Isles told the Guyana Chronicle that traffic ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have been placed at every bus park across the country as part of an anti-COVID-19 exercise to ensure persons are abiding by the law and are practising social distancing.

“We have ranks at all the parks throughout the 10 administrative region; we have traffic ranks going around and talking to the drivers, advising them because we know that there are some of them who are not complying, endangering the life [sic] of the commuters and their own lives,” he said.

However, the traffic chief noted that the Guyana Police Force has avoided arresting conductors and drivers, but they have had to reload a few buses so that passengers are seated in accordance with the three-feet-apart, social-distancing rule (two passengers per seat).

“We did not arrest drivers and conductors, what we did was ensure that they take the persons out of the bus so they have space [between passengers]… if the bus is seen with more than the suggested number of passengers, they would stop the bus talk to the driver and ensure that they comply,” he added.

He noted that a few minibus operators are still not implementing the precautionary measures and ranks will continue to educate both commuters and minibus operators about the seriousness of the pandemic and the results of having a nonchalant approach to fighting the virus.

As regards public transportation, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MoPI) had proposed that minibuses as well as hire cars take only half the number of passengers which the vehicle is licensed to carry. In addition, the requirement of a minibus conductor on board public buses has been relaxed until future notice.

Private transportation, which includes cars, vans and pick-ups are not allowed to carry more than two adults and two lap infants if the vehicle is licensed to transport such numbers. There must be a clear passenger distance between two persons travelling in a private vehicle.

This measure is part of a number of steps taken by the government to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Government has also reduced the prices for fuel to cushion the loss of income due to the mandatory reduction of passengers on public transportation.