COVID-19 and Guyana’s minibus culture

GUYANA has always had an unpleasant history of gross minibus culture, and, with the current health crisis, it seems to be worsening.
The President of the United Minibus Association, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, revealed that, despite the continuous spread of the deadly coronavirus, several minibus operators are still not adhering to the measures to slow the spread of the virus.

Stating that it is the ‘hustle mentality’ that keeps them from placing their health and the health of others first, Andrews noted that, “there are still buses that are accepting people in the bus without mask, buses are leaving the parks with the correct amount of passengers only to go a few miles and pick up more passengers.”

Andrews added that he was optimistic that the COVID-19 pandemic would have prompted minibus operators to be more compassionate to their passengers, as a means of putting their safety first, during the health crisis.
“I was hoping with this COVID-19 scenario would have taught them that passengers are their brothers, their sisters, their mothers which means that they must be respected, and they must be treated in a special way,”

Agents of death (heavy touting)
In raising concerns of minibus touts, Andrews noted that he was particularly concerned about the large number of touts still traversing the bus parks, and several visits to the various parks revealed that none was wearing any protective gear for the safety of themselves and others.

“They are still jostling persons to get into buses and they don’t even have on mask…they are agents of death,” he stated.
While acknowledging that they too still have to work given the circumstances, touting is still very much illegal and it is extremely critical that people protect themselves.

Speeding
In addition, many minibus operators have been ‘pushing’ beyond the speed limits, in a rush to make several trips, in an attempt to make up for money lost, in only fetching half the amount the passengers that they would usually carry per trip.

Andrews further stated that all the various complaints show that Guyana’s minibus culture is still based on the ‘hustle’ and not the safety of the people. Nevertheless, he noted that there are a few operators who are adhering to the measures, showing that there is still hope that Guyana’s minibus culture can and will change in the future.

The health authorities had urged minibuses operators as well as hire cars to only take half the number of passengers for which the vehicle is licensed to carry. In addition, the requirement for a minibus conductor on board public bus should be relaxed until further notice.

As regards to private transportation, vehicle operators which include cars, vans and pick-ups, no 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, the health authorities said.