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Route 40 minibus operators say fares are a lot more than gasoline price
Even as the Ministry of Trade is insisting that passengers should not pay any increase, Route 40 minibus operators continue to demand a $20 increase to the regular travelling fare, which is $60.
A minibus stops illegally to pick up a passenger, a move that is familiarly known as “hot plating”.
The Guyana Public Transportation Association, which represents the bus operators, is standing its ground, maintaining that “neither the Ministry of Trade nor the Guyana Police Force has any authority to set fares.”
According to a document issued by the Association, “minibus operators will not be committing any traffic breaches if they ask commuters to pay higher fares”.
The same document also had a statement made by former Minister of Tourism, Maniram Prashad in 2007, in which he said that “the Ministry does not have any legal authority to fix a fare”.
The operators are requesting an official meeting with Government officials, since there are many other reasons for them wanting to hike the travel fares, besides the price of gasoline.
One driver explained that those insisting that the price remains the same, are just catering for gasoline and not damaged spare parts and the much waiting and patience that the drivers and conductors put into their work.
One of the major issues affecting these drivers is the illegal “hot plate” activities. “Some of these buses does just stop in the middle of the road and quickly pick up passengers, while those abiding by the laws and parking in lines are being robbed of an honest living. We are being forced to wait in the lines for hours,” one man said.
They believe that the hike in fares is the only way that the law abiding minibus operators can make a living. President of the Minibus Association, Eon Andrews told Kaieteur News that they had already called on the government for a meeting, but received no reply.
The meeting, the minibus operators added, will not only address the current issue at the Route 40 park, but the many other issues affecting many other minibus drivers and the various parks in the city.
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