Collusion between police and minibus drivers

May 25, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

A few days ago, my car broke down. So I decided to take the minibus home. I hadn’t done this in about three years. I joined a route 44 bus at the East Coast Bus Park and was almost knocked out of my senses when the driver announced to the passengers that if we cannot sit five in a seat, then we can leave the bus.

At that time, which can be considered peak hour (around 5:30) people were like flies at the park with no minibus in sight. So the driver sought to take advantage of the situation.

Now what is more worrying is that when I objected and told the driver that this is illegal, all he said was that “if de police stop me, all I have to do is give them a grand and me and them safe’. I promptly came out of the bus and hailed a taxi and made my way home.

These wanton ruthless people should be jailed or sent to some correction facility where they can be made to understand that the lives of passengers lie in the driver’s hands.

No wonder so many accidents happen on the road in Guyana. I think that the problem starts from the mentality of these people and those that allow it to happen. I think if passengers are more united also, it would help these unscrupulous drivers to stop with their nonsense.

On that particular day, when I objected, the other passengers seemed annoyed with me and did not mind sitting five in a seat.

My objections were clearly preventing them from going home in a hurry, so they were more than happy when I exited the bus. Now if these passengers had all gone against the driver and spoken up like myself, then there is no way he would have taken advantage. Passengers need to speak up for their rights.

I think that if this Government is really serious about curbing the number of accidents then, it should go to the root of the problem, which is the fact that the police are as corrupt as ever and they allow this nonsense of overloading minibuses to take place. It must stop or more lives will be lost.

Disgusted taxpayer