AT last Friday’s signing ceremony of the code of ethics for taxi drivers, held at the Tourism, Industry & Commerce Ministry’s South Road, Georgetown boardroom, Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali disclosed that the Tourism Ministry is, within the next six months, looking to develop a national transportation code which will incorporate all aspects of public transportation.

Minister Ali said one issue faced in dealing with minibus drivers is that of varied representation, as there are more than five entities representing minibus drivers, including the West Demerara Minibus Association, which writes the ministry on a regular basis in relation to minibus operations.
He said the ministry is working with a number of organisations to form a national transportation association that would holistically examine public transportation.
This, he said, would not include only minibuses, but also craft plying the rivers, because it has been recognised that a lot of accidents happen in the rivers.
Ali said that while commerce ministry officials are concentrating on managing the behaviour of drivers on the public roadways, there are many reports of boat captains indulging in the consumption of alcohol before performing their duties, thereby putting at risk the safety of persons travelling in their boats.