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Govt. not ruling out placing minibus industry under PUC-Luncheon

Apr 21, 2011 News

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) should be statutorily empowered to regulate the minibus industry and this could become a reality much earlier. This move is likely to be more effective than sporadic interventions by the Government, according to Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon.
At the time Dr Luncheon was addressing members of the media at his weekly press conference at Office of the President yesterday.
Dr. Luncheon said that there is need for a fairly considered approach to create a state tone for the introduction and operations of a public bus company.
He said that public transportation being recognised as a utility would then fall under the conventions and statutes that govern the operation of the utilities. Placing this transport system under the PUC would be the number one option.
The Cabinet Secretary said that the behaviour of the minibus operators is objectionable particularly in the wake of efforts by the administration to reduce prices by foregoing the collection of excise tax on fuel products. However, it is not unexpected that minibus operators would want to utilize the opportunity to make money and get better returns on their investments.
However, according to the United Minibus Unions (UMU) President, Eon Andrews, the system that Government would like to implement would not be logical since not only legislative changes would have to be made but the move would also interrupt the free market system.
Scores of route 42 minibus operators who ply the Georgetown to Timehri route, recently staged a strike to press a demand for $20 increase in ‘short drop’ fares and $60 for the longer journey.
They embarked on a sit-in along East Bank Demerara and demanded that Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, who has the consumer protection portfolio, heed their calls for an across-the-board rise in transportation fares.
However, although the excise tax on gasoline has been lowered to 15 per cent to keep the gasoline prices under a $1,000 at the Guyoil gas stations most operators have nevertheless raised the fares against the government sanction.
High fuel prices have triggered protests by bus drivers demanding fare increases.
Guyana imports most of its fuel from Trinidad and Venezuela. It pays about $126 per barrel for gasoline and $131 for diesel.
However, at the various pumps in the city the prices vary:  Guyoil in Ruimveldt ($1030 per gallon), Two Brothers gas station in Eccles ($1041 per gallon), Guyoil at Providence, East Bank Demerara ($980 per gallon), Texaco at Providence, East Bank Demerara ($1040 per gallon), Shell gas station Providence, East Bank Demerara ($1043 per gallon), Shell gas station Mc Doom, East Bank Demerara ($1257 per gallon), Texaco gas station at Mandela Avenue ($1041 per gallon), Guyoil gas station at Sheriff Street ($980 per gallon) Texaco at Vlissengen Road ($1045 per gallon)   Shell at Vlissengen Road ($1043 per gallon), Guyoil in Kitty ($980 per gallon), and Texaco on High Street ($1035 per gallon).

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