We East Coast Demerara commuters are at the mercy of unscrupulous bus drivers

Apr 07, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am a single parent employed with the Government of Guyana. I travel five days per week to work in Georgetown. My salary is under $50,000 per month. I am very much ashamed and embarrassed with the transportation system in Enterprise/Nonpariel/Coldingen and other parts of East Coast and the country as a whole. It is most frustrating. From Nonpareil,Enterprise/ Coldingen and the outlying areas the bus fare officially is $120 per person to Georgetown. Daily it is $240 return bus fare. But almost all the buses in Coldingen/Nonpariel/Enterprise collect $200 from each passenger. Official working hours is 8.00a.m.to 12.00 p.m. and 1.00 p.m.to 4.30 p.m. So many vehicles in Guyana, yet still we the workers are left for hours on the roadways. We are left stranded on the East Coast parks bus parks /Camp Street and North Road, etc.
Why? In the mornings, bus conductors as well as drivers tell us, the passengers, point blank “we going short”, “we nah going town.” Meaning they going up to B.V and from B.V. they then head to Georgetown.. They would then sort out passengers which comprise school children and ‘short drops’ which is between $60.00 and $100.00. We are left to suffer on the road from as early as 6.30 a.m. and to be still left on the road ways stranded sometimes until 09.30 am for transportation.
In the afternoons, they tell us point blank if you pay $200 jump in the bus. Many a days we are left to suffer in this way and this causes lateness to work and workers are left answerable to the mercy of supervisors coupled with the long traffic jam on the East Coast Highway in the vicinity of Apex School at Montrose daily in the morning hours and the continuation of other schools on the Carifesta Avenue, and other schools leading to Camp street, etc, which also includes stop lights before reaching north road and which we can cope with). The problems
could have been solved if bus conductors and drivers fetch passengers from their own areas rather than coming out of the Enterprise/Nonpareil/Coldingen areas and going all the way to collect people on the main public road and other areas. It’s very difficult when the buses don’t pick you up. You have to take short drops all the way until you reach the Coldingen turn, then take a taxi from there to go into the area, since it’s a haven for robbers. At the end of the day you spend almost a $1000.00 on fares trying to reach home before it’s too dark. Not many people can afford this. When it is early you have to walk in that long road to Enterprise and its environment. It is a harassing and frustrating problem.
We are calling on the relevant authorities to please help to adjust the situation with the bus fares — (commuters must not pay more than the required fares). Another suggestion is that maybe the Government can implement public buses at parks for various country wide areas. The commuters are suffering to an extent of being disciplined and given letters for late coming, etc. Working mothers, pregnant mothers, children and aged workers also suffer. In many cases people cannot afford to pay $200.00 as their wages are insufficient but we have no choice but pay and hold onto our jobs
Editor, the afternoons are no better. A bus will stop, but when you reach the destination, the conductors say $200.00 is the fare. The bus conductors shout at you saying ‘ short short, Better Hope”. They make several trips to Better Hope and then do all the short drops until they reach Coldingen/Nonpariel/Enterprise. Passengers all along the East Coast face the same fate where we are left stranded. It’s either we pay $200 and ply the route we are going or take another area bus for the same fare of $200, stop off by Coldingen or Enterprise, and take a taxi for the short drop of $200 /$300/ $400 for the single journey to go into Coldingen/Nonpariel/Enterprisef.
Editor, the situation is getting worse. Can something be done about this? On Weekends the same buses who refuse passengers from Monday to Friday are begging for the same passengers and begging for them to travel when they see you at the bus park. We are fed up and confused. Buses still continue with the short drops and increased fares of $200 and nothing is being done. (Please let the bus fares remain the same as $120 and return $240), many people cannot afford to pay $400 return.
Residents and public servants (Enterprise/Nonpariel/Coldingen)

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We East Coast Demerara commuters are at the mercy of unscrupulous bus drivers

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