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East Coast Demerara minibus operators targeted in ‘mag rims’ campaign

Jul 12, 2012 News

As the police continue their campaign against the use of ‘mag rims’ minibus operators on East Coast Demerara are now feeling the squeeze.
Last week, several minibuses that operate on the East Demerara highway were taken off the roads and detained at the Cove and John Police Station for possessing ‘mag rims’. This newspaper learnt that the fitness certificates of the embattled vehicles were revoked.
Doodnauth Arun, a Mahaica minibus operator told Kaieteur News that he is baffled about the campaign. He claims that this is the first time he encountered such a problem with the law.
“We can’t understand this thing all  the minibus stop work, when they start this morning  some of them empty them whole load to turn back to go home and park ; them that already on the park say they aint coming back till late because they ain’t want get charge. We can’t work and is de passengers gon suffer.”
Arun said that he purchased his minibus from the dealer with the ‘mag rims’ and later obtained fitness license to operate same. In addition the man said that he renewed his fitness certificate for the said vehicle merely on Friday last.
The man said that he was made to understand that an accident was purportedly caused by a ‘mag rim’ minibus and resulted in the death of a senior policeman’s son and that sparked the whole campaign.
However, according to the police, the campaign is an ongoing one where all public transportation with ‘mag rims’ will be targeted. The source said that the fitness licences of all minibuses that are found in possession of these wide wheels would be cancelled.
In relation to questions of minibus operators claiming that the police gave fitness certificate for their minibuses in spite of the mag rims, the source said that it boils down to the police words against theirs. The force further stated that the minibuses with revoked certificates of fitness will be returned to the operators.
This newspaper learnt that more that 34 minibuses were taken off the roads for the use of ‘mag rims’.
Last week more than 65 minibus operators on West Coast Demerara protested the removal of mag rims, calling the campaign “senseless.”  The men claimed they are persistently under duress by police for numerous miniature matters. The workers said that there is much distrust for procedure since the police restored their fitness certificate to continue to operate their vehicles with mag rims.
The operators said that they are seeking the intervention of the Minister of Home Affairs to clarify the issue. The operators also threatened to strike if their issues are not addressed.
According to the operators, their vehicles did not exceed the maximum width required by the law to maneuver. The operators claim that mag rims give their vehicles a more “sturdy” balance.
However, a police source told Kaieteur News that all the vehicles that were detained were in breach of the traffic regulations and that exercise was to caution minibus operators.

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