Our putrid public transport system

Jul 06, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Our public transport system, more specifically the minibus system, is in a putrid state. Even though this has been the case for many years now, the decay seems to have accelerated within the recent past.

Sadly, many Guyanese, particularly many schoolchildren, seem to be proud of a minibus ‘culture’ that epitomises disorder.

Many minibus operators pride themselves on playing music at levels that are detrimental to the health of passengers and themselves. It is a medical fact that the tempo of music affects our heart rate, blood pressure and respiration.

Fast tempos tend to increase heart rate, blood pressure and respiration while slow tempos tend to reduce them. Essentially, the music you hear, whether you have chosen it or not, whether you like it or not, will affect your health.

If you commute by the use of our public transport system on a daily basis, ask yourself, which type of music do minibus operators play more often than not – music with fast tempos or slow tempos? Answer: Music with fast tempos.

Now consider the effects the lyrical content of the music many minibus operators choose to play in their respective buses.

In a society (as a whole) where morals are at best putrid and at worst nonexistent, lyrics that attempt to degrade the purpose and value of women, promote hostility and hatred towards police officers and glorify promiscuity and the use of marijuana will only serve to completely obliterate any morals and values we are endeavouring to salvage and develop.

Some minibus conductors are guilty of acts of robbery. One such incident occurred not so long ago when a young schoolchild paid the conductor of the minibus in which he was travelling.

The young man gave the said conductor a $100 bill with the expectation of receiving his change, since the short drop should have cost him $60; sadly, this was not the case.

The conductor who had his colleague travelling in the said minibus refused to return the young man’s change, coercing the young man to pay his colleague’s fare.

While the child adamantly refused, and tearfully begged for his change, they mocked him and eventually robbed him as he exited the minibus, without what was rightfully his. There are many other incidents of like nature that occur frequently.

Another injustice, which frequently occurs, is when passengers exit minibuses and other passengers, who would have already indicated their desired stops, are forced to exit the minibuses, if their desired stops are subjectively deemed as close to the current stop, by the operators.

This is often done to avoid any inconvenience to the operators; pubescent schoolchildren are the frequent victims.

I need not expound on the recklessness with which many minibus drivers navigate our roadways and other lawlessness such as overloading. Such offences are casually committed since they can be easily rectified with bribery, which sadly, seems to be another well-appreciated local ‘culture’.

In anticipation of many readers misinterpreting and generalising what I have stated so far, it is imperative that I say that the above scenarios of injustice and lawlessness are in no way a general classification of all minibus operators, but rather, a highlight of what occurs more often than not.

Let me also say that there are many minibus operators who are law-abiding citizens and are in no way guilty of any delinquencies I have mentioned above. Sadly, these faithful men and women are the minority in our public transport system.

I have nothing against those who are employed in our public transport system; however, the actions of many are what I feel indignant towards. I need and am appreciative of the services provided by these individuals but refuse to condone the wrongdoings of the majority.
Ganesh Gupta