It’s time Government implement a public transport net-work

Apr 11, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I am not in agreement with minibus owners and operators holding commuters to ransom and compliment Minister Robeson Benn for his rescue effort. Many minibus owners and operators are over charging the traveling public.
If an analysis is done on the traveling public, the fare structure and the minibus systems, the findings will be stunning. I have (inclusive of myself) witnessed commuters complaining about overpaying fares especially at nights, but that is all they can do. If there is an enforcement policy, minibus operators and owners do not adhere to them and the authorities seem to have no control over the situation.
For a journey to the West Coast of Demerara during the night, operators tell you ‘two dalla’ or ‘don’t go in the bus’. This is holding the commuter to ransom and candidly some commuters would only have the required fare to get home. Government must come up with an alternative for this high handed treatment of the workforce in our country. Our workers keep our economy turning and it is the duty of the government of the day to protect and support them.
Politicians and potential presidential candidates, who exert anger and frivolous suggestions as workable solutions to address such issues are only compounding the situation, i.e. Kaieteur News April 7, 2011, “The government can’t say don’t raise fare or tell a passenger don’t pay. It has to be a comprehensive system; they are running this country like a cowboy. It has to be that we look at the entire system, reduce VAT to eight per cent or 10 per cent, and reduce the gasoline tax to three per cent  then we will have more money in our pockets so persons can afford to pay the $20 more”, Peter Ramsaroop asserted.
This is shallow and short sighted, as the final result in his thoughts is just for the commuters to be able to pay the ransom of $20.
That is not the answer, Guyana has to move forward and we must do so together, we have to think for ourselves and not have an aspiring president impose his wrangled concept that is short term and not sustainable. One observation and reality that clearly establish my ‘unsustainable concept’ is that dependence on the gasoline tax as a cushion to such bailouts in the long term will not be feasible.
Constructive criticism to such sensitive issues should be supported with an alternative proposal and I am not being cute, I am being realistic and if Ramsaroop’s party is about sustained development he will agree with me.
A reliable and dependable transport system is what propels a country forward; it is the backbone to communications. Guyana had trains, trams, buses etc. during my childhood upbringing. I used to get into a yellow bus and travel for five cents, trams used to run the water street area for two cents, ride the train from Georgetown to as far as Rosignol or Vreed-en-hoop to Parika or from Port Kaituma to Matthews Ridge. These were all working public transportation systems of which none exist today, sadly.
Public transportation in Guyana is at a turning point, this is our situation and we cannot keep wallowing in blaming and shooting down systems that can improve if we direct workable concepts their way. We have to get up and answer the call, Guyanese are hard workers our historical past can testify for us, but our livelihood cannot be at the mercy of people that hold their own to ransom.
Commuters are so dependent on minibuses that whatever condition operators and owners throw at them, they accept in silence and say ‘well, wha ah gan do?’ and rightly commuters are helpless. Accept minibus owners and operators’ conditions or sleep on the road.
I have a suggestion for the Government. Particularly Minister Benn, it is time government implement a public transport system in Guyana. The minibuses played their role in our public transport development and
the time is nigh for them to make their exit. Government must do a study on public transport systems and implement it soonest. The type of buses Mr. Benn threw into easing the grief of the commuters maybe up for consideration and they can be sprayed ‘Green’ to keep in line with our Low Carbon Development Path.
Major beneficiary groups will be our senior citizens, students and workers a hefty percentage.
• Senior citizens – I was saddened recently when I saw an elderly woman being refused as a passenger because she was too slow at reaching to the bus door. (Not an isolated case)
• Students – are refused as passengers because they do not pay the full price or will occupy seats that can be ‘better’ utilized.
• Workers – the force to keep our economy going and they need to travel daily at a cheap price and comfort after a hard day’s work.
With a public transport system in place the traveling public will be better served. Time for the Government to act.
Ashton Simon

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