Latest update December 25th, 2024 1:10 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

The minibus situation is out of control

Jul 28, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
The minibus situation is out of control and drastic action has to be taken by the citizens of this country who can’t afford a car, because this government has shown that this issue is on their backburner and obviously they have no interest at all in bringing proper public transportation for our citizens.
First of all, the authorities in charge should restrict minibuses to the outskirts of Georgetown and any bus going more than 40 miles an hour should be hauled off the roadway – and that covers anywhere in Guyana. Secondly, undercover policemen from a special task force should be in plain clothes and boarding minibuses to observe and charge any drivers who abuse and misuse the system in place for the safety and comfort of all passengers.
Thirdly, elections are coming and this government has to be compelled to provide some public transportation, especially for our children going to and from school in particular. It’s about time that public buses are provided for the citizenry of this country from one end to the other, because minibuses are becoming a threat to regular folks.
How long are we, the citizens of this country, going to put up with this carnage by these minibuses whose drivers are generally out of control in their attitudes to other drivers and aggressive and abusive to the passengers? How long are we going to tolerate their dangerous driving, overcrowding buses, playing loud music and “touting” for passengers in very agressive ways? How long do we, the citizens, have to bear the great costs of taking care of the injured in our hospitals due to minibus carnage on our roads, not to mention the rehabilitation for the seriously disabled in long term effects? How long before we get justice in the courts against these minibus offenders like the one accused of killing and injuring our brethren in the minibus on Homestretch Avenue?
For passengers going to the West Coast Demerara in the early evening hours, minibuses are charging full fare ($400) to Parika even though the passenger might be going to Leonara which should be a lower fare. On top of that, minibuses are putting people off the bus if they do not have the full fare to Parika , leaving passengers stranded at Stabroek Market.
On many minibuses, the conductor crouches or stands up to make space for one more passenger and increases the danger and discomfort to the commuters. Many times when citizens object to the callous behaviour of minibus drivers, they are thrown off the bus at the next stop. Many minibuses have threadworn tyres and are not properly serviced and these factors, combined with high speed and reckless driving, present real imminent danger to our citizens.
I have personally witnessed minibus cell phone contact where a roadblock by police was in place on the West Coast recently – a minibus at the roadblock calling the minibus in which I was travelling (which was overloaded) to warn our driver who then proceeded to unload passengers before reaching that police check-point.
The bottom line is that the dire lack of public transportation in this country has and is causing the havoc on our roadways by these minibus drivers who have proven that they, in general, lack the compassion and sense of responsibility which our citizens deserve. We, the citizens, need to realize that this government has absolutely no intention of providing safe public transportation and therefore, we need to start speaking out and demanding better service and courtesy by these people who drive minibuses and think that the roadways belong to them alone.
Cheddi (Joey) Jagan(Jr.)

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

The wait is over, all roads lead to KMTC for their Grand Boxing Day Horse race meet

The wait is over, all roads lead to KMTC for their Grand Boxing Day...

Dec 25, 2024

Over 70 entries in as $7M in prizes at stake  By Samuel Whyte Kaieteur Sports- The time has come and the wait is over and its gallop time as the biggest event for the year-end season is set for the...
Read More
Xhiya Hercules – flipping the script towards Gymnastics history for Guyana

Xhiya Hercules – flipping the script towards...

Dec 25, 2024

Road Warriors, Bent Street, Team Cruel & Gold Is Money into quarter-finals

Road Warriors, Bent Street, Team Cruel &...

Dec 25, 2024

Deol maiden hundred outshines Matthews’ as India take series

Deol maiden hundred outshines Matthews’ as...

Dec 25, 2024

Moraikobai village two days football competition and fun day set for Old and New Year’s Day

Moraikobai village two days football competition...

Dec 25, 2024

BCB thanks cricket fraternity for strong support in 2024

BCB thanks cricket fraternity for strong support...

Dec 25, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]