Issues with public transportation

Not all of us are drivers or have our own vehicles. Some of us do not want to drive or cannot drive as well as others do. So, people like us have to utilise public transportation. And while it can be a bit bothersome and time-consuming, I’m sure you can agree that it can also be entertaining.

I utilise public transportation to commute from the East Coast Demerara to the city. It requires two buses, and the journey can be surreal at times. It makes me think that I am observing a post from the popular social media account “Guyana is not a real place” because of how chaotic our public transportation system is.

Upon face value, it seems as though there is no structure, but according to the President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews, a lot is being done to make using public transportation via minibuses more bearable. He related that, with public transportation, the minibuses are privately owned, and they are zoned and ply different routes for a certain fare structure. Andrews stated that these minibuses have their own bus parks in the city and all across the country. He explained that private owners of the minibuses often do not drive the vehicles themselves and hire drivers and others to operate.

A minibus can seat 15 persons comfortably, including the driver and a conductor. All of these persons should be licensed to operate. According to Andrews, rules govern the Union and about 2,000 minibus operators are registered; further, it is the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department that enforces the law.
In 2019, a minibus code of conduct was approved by the government. This included the adoption of a uniform and badge system to maintain order. Each minibus route has different colours of attire, that is, the shirt with a badge vetted by the Union. There are also dispatchers who assist passengers to load buses and direct them to the various routes and bus parks.

Of course, despite these measures, there are quite a few irritants with the system, one of those being the “touts” on the bus park. Andrews acknowledged that this is an age-old problem and that there are continuous efforts to rid the bus parks of touts due to complaints from the travelling public about being harassed.

Public transportation and negligent use of the roads

November is designated road safety month, and annually, the police host awareness campaigns to educate the public about the safe use of the road. All drivers are engaged, such as public, private and company drivers to promote road safety all year round to reduce road fatality and road accidents.

In a summary published by the Guyana Chronicle of traffic cases spanning from January 14 to January 20, 2024, the GPF has reported concerning statistics, urging both motorists and pedestrians to prioritise road safety.
The compiled data reveal a total of 3,446 cases during the week, with 819 charges, 2,245 tickets issued, and 382 summonses. Additionally, 52 warrants were executed during this period.
Monday and Tuesday during that period emerged with the highest daily cases, registering 566 and 521 incidents, respectively. Speeding violations accounted for a significant portion, with 902 tickets issued, and Sunday alone witnessed 185 such cases. Notably, Sunday and Monday saw a spike in DUI cases, raising alarms as at least six drivers under the influence had blood alcohol content readings as high as .115. Region 4 C took the lead in overall cases, reporting 840 incidents, followed by Region 4 B (777 cases), Region 6 (537 cases), and Region 5 (338 cases). Region 4 A recorded 316 cases for the week.
Personal experience

Despite certain measures in place, I have also seen firsthand the carelessness that accompanies by taking public transportation. It is not taken seriously since I have often witnessed minibuses overloaded with four persons in a row.

In the mornings and afternoons, during rush hour, there is a constant flow of people trying to get to and from work and to their destinations, and they have no mode of transportation other than utilising the public system.

It is quite discerning to see how elders and small children are being treated, and the attitude of some of these minibus operators should be better since the travelling public is paying for the service.

As a person who utilises public transportation, it is a very uncomfortable situation to take the bus home after work, and often, they hike the bus fares. You have to pay to get home, and then there is the loud music to top it off.When you protest or express your disappointment, you are being verbally abused and asked to exit the bus.

As a daily commuter, I believe the public transportation system should be regularised to maintain law and order since it is a hassle to get to your destination comfortably.