ROUTE 44 minibus drivers have taken it upon themselves to increase fares yet again, this time from $160 to $300 per passenger one-way.
During peak hours, this publication was told that passengers are being made to pay as much as $400 to get to the Melanie-Victoria corridor, which is deemed very unfair for commuters utilising public transportation for daily activities, including work.
One daily commuter, who wished not to be named told the Guyana Chronicle that the minibus operators and bus park touts are demanding that fare even before passengers enter the minibus and their attitude and demeanor are far from reasonable.
The woman said she was afraid to speak up and opted to pay $300 to get home from work after paying $140 for a short drop in the Route 40 Kitty/Campbellville minibus. The usual fare for Kitty/Campbellville is $100.
“These men are very aggressive. They tell you straight up you have to pay $300 and $400 to get up the East Coast and there is nothing you can do because after a long day of work you have to get home,” she said.
Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh said the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Traffic Department wishes to remind operators that in accordance with the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, Chapter 51:02, fares must not be unreasonable and that copies of the approved fare-table must be carried and displayed in the vehicle for inspection at all times.
Passengers are urged to acquaint themselves with the official fares for their route and to report any incidents of overcharging to the nearest police station or police along the route without delay or hesitation. Necessary actions will be taken against non-compliant minibus operators.
All across the country, minibus operators have increased bus fares without consulting the authorities or the United Minibus Union on a practical fare structure for all minibus routes in Guyana.
Even more alarming, the taxis operators have also increased fares, even some of those registered in taxi services.
Meanwhile, President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews could not be reached via telephone. However, he told another section of the media that the union is not aware of any official adjustment to fares and would not support unilateral action on pricing.
He said any responsible public transportation body would be unwilling to approve such changes, citing the pressure on low-income passengers, who utilise public transportation daily.
Andrews explained that the union has asked for a meeting with the current administration on public transport-related issues and is cognisant of apprehensions at all the minibus parks, to urgently resolve the matter on unjust minibus fare increases.
