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May 19, 2013 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

One of the most harassed groupings in this country is minibus drivers. These hardworking men are constantly stopped by the police and threatened with charges, often for the most trivial of infractions. These drivers, better than any, understand the power of the police. If they are taken down to the station, it is a day’s pay lost and most cannot afford this, because the money they earn is not enough to allow them to set aside a fair sum for such eventualities.
On top of this, many of them secure the job of driving someone’s bus on the pretence that they get along good with the police and can avoid the bus being impounded. If a driver is being pulled over by the cops too often, then it means that not only he, but the owner loses. Most owners in these instances would prefer to look for someone else who understands how to deal with the police.
It is a shameful thing to see how some minibus drivers are forced to behave in the presence of the police. Whenever they see a traffic cop it is as if they see their guru. They want to catch his attention; they want to be on friendly terms with the police; they paste a smile on their face and hail out the traffic rank as if he is a relative, but under their breath, they are muttering the most unworthy things about the rank.
No one should have to stoop to these levels just to avoid the harassment. They should be able to operate without having to belittle themselves in this way, and the police should have greater respect for themselves and not be seen in such an unfavourable light by minibus drivers.
A major part of the problem is of course the “hustle” which these drivers are on. The money that is made becomes far more important than the service which is supposed to be provided, and therefore these drivers are keen to maximize their earnings, and in so doing, take risks such as running afoul of the law.
And the traffic ranks are like hawks, only willing to oblige them, with a threat of a ticket, impounding their vehicle, or worse yet, charging them and placing them before the courts. Each one of these is costly and the traffic ranks know this and therefore the minibus drivers are only too willing to make a deal so as to avoid action being taken against them.
Right now there is a controversy brewing in the United States over the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targeting a specific class of persons. The controversy has already led to the resignation of a top official and is likely to lead to intensified calls for less selective targeting in tax audits.
However in Guyana, if the income tax authorities should undertake a special audit of traffic ranks, I am sure that there would be no public outrage. On the contrary, there is likely to be nationwide support for this measure. This special audit would in effect be asking some of those traffic ranks, who seemed to have acquired assets above what can be expected of persons at their income levels, to explain the sources of their income.
But this is not likely to end harassment of motorists on our roads. The government has to understand that unless something is done – to stop this culture of harassment that has developed – it will eventually be very difficult to attract a sufficient number of ranks committed to work with integrity within the Guyana Police Force.
A tremendous sum is transferred each month from the hands of private drivers into the pockets of corrupt traffic ranks. And while all traffic ranks cannot be painted with the same brush, the situation has long gotten out of hand, and those who have corrupt traffic ranks in their pockets feel that they can do as they please.
They can refuse to be part of a line system. They can decide to break the law with impunity, knowing that there are ways to avoid prosecution. And of course this places at a disadvantage those who wish to not break the law or try to compromise traffic ranks.
The solution to this harassment is to reduce the fines to a level that would encourage motorists to prefer to pay them, rather than pay a bribe. Given what takes place in Guyana today, it is worthwhile to do these things and therefore bring an end to this harassment of the public that takes place.

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