Government should control the Public Transport System

Sep 15, 2011 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Too often people write and it is being ignored. The  transportation sector is the biggest employment sector in Guyana, employing several thousands of persons as drivers, conductors, mechanics, upholsterers, wash bay attendants, gas station attendants, tint shops personnel, vulcanizing services, number plate craftsmen, spare parts storekeepers, auto electricians, auto salesmen, road repairmen, and the list goes on.
Yet this sector is the most disgusting, unregulated and least controlled sector.
There are numerous problems associated with this sector (especially for minibuses and hire cars)
Drinking and driving under the influence – It is noticeable that Guyanese have the habit of drinking a lot more and driving. Alcohol is cheaply available at parks and shops throughout Guyana. One wonders how often the breathalyzer test is administered and where?
More often than not drivers can be seen imbibing at parks, especially in the afternoons and on weekends. They often ‘lime’ and occupy parking space after which they will encourage passengers (mostly young people) to wait on them, and then they will overload their vehicles and drive under the influence.
There are too many beer carts close to parking areas, which encourages drivers to grab an alcoholic beverage easily, and also passengers usually get easy access and they buy these beverages at times for drivers. The problem is why are these carts allowed to sell inside these parks?
Are these carts legally operating, do they have to get licences, pay taxes, should they not be selling as an established entity with their liquor licence displayed?
Why is this slackness tolerated? These beer stalls encourage lots of young people to imbibe in parks before going home (adding to more social breakdown).
They tend to litter by throwing empty bottles anywhere when they are under the influence, they use indecent language, they engage in fights and become abusive, they bully and block active walkways and pavements, they urinate anywhere (this is why in all the parks to which you enter there is a high stench of urine – no proper public convenience), they even have arguments with other passengers, drivers and conductors, and are disrespectful to women and children in parks.
Many of the carts are also known to sell illicit drugs.
Overloading and overcharging of fares – There is no price control structure published by the agencies involved in monitoring public transportation. First of all, the minibus associations in Guyana need to reveal their true identity and the government needs to accredit them, then there is need for a proper fare structure.
Lack of passenger education and passenger conduct – Passengers need to be educated to respect the law and people. Many passengers have the tendency of disturbing the public with music on cell phones, arguing under the influence with others, encouraging overloading, taunting with racial remarks, and simply just not being
hospitable.
Speeding – Not much more that can be said here. Just remember the last fatal accident on Homestretch Avenue.
Inadequate parking for minibuses – There is inadequate parking for minibuses and cars providing public transportation due to vendors occupying parking spaces and refusing to sell elsewhere.
Lack of police/security personnel in parks – One wonders when the traffic wardens will come on stream. There is a lack of police presence causing eye pass to commuters and drivers, due to other drivers blocking active driveways and stopping to ‘juggle’ passengers and even overloading buses before leaving parks.
Lack of proper fitness checks on vehicles – The real problem here is that many police officers who work for a salary of $600,000 annually are owners of minibuses and taxis and they are the law breakers.
Many vehicle owners will usually pays $5,000 to $10,000 just to get a fitness to avoid taking their vehicles to the station to have them checked. If one should travel with route 48, 47 , 46, 45, 41 and some other buses, and even taxis, you will find that they have to have a high back seat, there is the lack of proper ventilation/sliding windows, illegally tinted glass, torn seats, shabby dashboards, broken doors.
Are these people not making money? I am certain that the owners get at least $4,000 per day. Can’t they set aside three days of profit to do basic maintenance? Are there no standards for vehicles to operate with? What are the authorities doing?
Lack of passenger safety – The lack of fitness checks encourages many unfit vehicles to operate freely with improper braking systems, bad seating, lack of proper sliding windows.
Music – There should be a total ban of music in minibus. This would force music lovers to carry their own headphones which will create a new wave of employment for people selling electronic gadgets.
I only hope that the relevant authorities responsible for public transport, traffic, and local government can swiftly implement some rules and make some urgent changes.
Derrick Persaud

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