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The atrocities by the Industry/UG minibus operators must stop

Nov 26, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
The minibus operators plying the Industry/UG route are frustrating commuters.
These minibus operators are demanding that passengers — both adults and school children (in uniforms) — pay $100, despite the drop in the cost of gasoline. This is very unfair to the commuters, because, when the price for fuel went up, we had to pay $100 for ourselves and each of our children travelling. But now, when the price for fuel has dropped, these operators do not want to reduce the bus fares.
What is even worse is that these minibus operators also verbally abuse us. Apparently, there is no regard for people’s feelings, and there is a definite absence of self-respect and dignity on the drivers’ and conductors/conductresses’ part. Recently, a young training college teacher was most unfortunate to have the bus driver with whom she had travelled abuse her and her “whole generation” as being scamps, simply because the young teacher paid the conductress $80. Additionally, last week Tuesday, another young woman was embarrassed by a conductress who demanded $20 more in addition to the $80 paid. The young woman responded that the Government has said that fare must be reduced. To this the conductress yelled, “Dis is not Government transportation, this is private transportation!” Further, on Monday of this week, another conductor made it clear to the passengers in the bus that they have to pay $100.
Mr. Editor, these minibus operators are inflicting verbal and mental abuse upon their hapless passengers: they demand that we pay exorbitant prices, cuss and abuse us if we do not; over load their buses; turn up their radio’s volume incredibly high; fly our hearts into our throats with their nose-to-nose speeding along the East Coast Highway/Railway Road.
Indeed, the Guyana Police Force is trying to eradicate speeding, over loading, and noise pollution in all minibuses; but these groups at the Industry/UG park are clever. They read the cops’ movements.
Needless to say, this route is a very crucial one. There are no shortages of passengers here, since people from Ogle, Industry, Cummings Lodge and Turkeyen must travel with these operators. Additionally, students of the University of Guyana and the Cyril Potter College of Education depend on these unscrupulous minibus operators immensely.
I am calling on the authorities to seriously consider implementing some form of Government transportation along this route for the commuters especially, since the majority of the students do not have a choice but to travel with these unethical minibus operators. Further, I am asking that the relevant authorities provide authentic copies of the fare structure and authentic copies of the code(s) of conduct for minibus drivers and conductors/conductresses, to be posted on the minibuses for all to see.
And finally, I do not think that it is right for the minibus operators to use expletives while they are in the process of providing public transportation, as is the case with some operators plying the Industry/UG route. These people have no regard for the children, the elderly or the self-respecting passengers whom they are transporting.
Frustrated Commuter

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