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Minibus operators ‘exploiting’ passengers
– Ministers to meet operators
The list of complaints by commuters against minibus operators has increased to include inflating bus fares, on the pretext of a bus shortage. However, this ploy has grown old, as it is over a year now since minibus operators are charging almost double the fare in the afternoons.
Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, on Saturday confirmed that he has received numerous complaints from members of the public about this situation.
Benn noted that he and the Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, will be meeting minibus operators of the various routes this week. It is anticipated that the meeting will allow discussions on the exploitation of passengers, and ascertain recommendations and suggestions on the way forward.
Passengers waiting anxiously during the ‘bus shortage’ period
The ‘bus shortage’ usually occurs around 16:45 hrs, when commuters are in a haste to reach home. According to the passengers, minibus operators enter the parks demanding a certain amount of money and if an agreement is not met on the fare, passengers are left to the mercy of the road.
A route 32 passenger stated that there is no alternative option, and as such, passengers are forced to pay the fare demanded by the operators.
A commuter who resides at Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara (WCD), emphasized that she usually takes one hour to get a bus. Every afternoon she is forced to pay $200 instead of the normal $160 fare.
The route 32 passengers are placed at a further disadvantage, when they are left with the option of either disembarking the bus at Vreed-en-Hoop, WCD, or paying the Parika fare of $500 even if they may be going to Uitvlugt.
Meanwhile, the dilemma faced by passengers traversing from Georgetown to Wales (No. 31) is different and dangerous. Instead, of overcharging passengers, the West Bank Demerara minibus operators reportedly force passengers to sit ‘five in a seat’.
According to some passengers, this is done openly, even as traffic ranks are on the route.
It was also revealed that some passengers wanting to go to Canal Number Two, are forced to either wait for long periods for a bus or leave town with a Wales bus and stop at the Stanleytown Junction.
The passengers stressed that this is costly as they pay $100 to arrive at the Junction and then pay a further $200 to go to Belle West Housing Scheme. It was noted that the original fare from Georgetown to Belle West is $160.
Apparently, this occurrence is not common on the East Bank of Demerara. However, the situation usually exists whenever there are events at the National Stadium. Some passengers claimed that most minibuses during the evenings are now working from Georgetown to inside the Diamond Housing Scheme. This is to the disadvantage of those passengers whose destinations are Grove and Craig.
It is their opinion, that minibus operators prefer working in the scheme because they charge passengers $160.
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