Route 32 minibus owners threaten to cease operations

Aug 16, 2013 News

The minibus operators of Route 32.

– Complain of high fuel prices

By Javone Vickerie

Minibus operators plying Route 32 (Georgetown/Parika), specifically those operating from Vreed-en-hoop, are planning to cease operation in the area, after the Ministry of Tourism told commuters not to pay an extra cost on the current bus fare which has caused conflict on both sides.
According to Annie Lackoo, last week Wednesday the price of fuel raised to as much as $1100 gallon ,before it skyrocketed from $1300 to $1500 per gallon. The woman added that because of the prices, Guyoil gas stations along the West Coast ceased operations leaving privately-owned stations to raise their prices.
The minibus operator said that back in 2008, a fare structure was given to them by the Ministry of Tourism and has since been in use to this day. However, she said, they were told by the same ministry that if the price of fuel ever exceeded $1000 they had permission to raise the fare.
“They tell us one thing and then do another. We are suffering out here because of this high price of fuel and if we get no response we are going to stop working,” Lackoo said.
A driver, Anthony Pereira, said that his wife Zelena was assaulted by a passenger last week after she charged an extra $20 on the usual fare.
“The usual fare from Leonora to Vreed-en-Hoop is $100, so we start tek $20 more and the woman start chuck me wife for the $20 extra. We ain’t asking for nothing much… is $20… and people going on bad for it,” the man reflected.
He added that when he made a report to the police the matter was never followed up.
The operators said that because of the issue it has created havoc between them and passengers. Another male operator said that spares at most dealers in Region 3 have increased in price which is also a major problem.
“We are working at a loss. Some days we are out here and we have to spend like six to eight hours before we get an actual load and all that money does go back to gas and spares we don’t carry home nothing much,” he said.
He added that all the bus drivers need an adjustment of the minibus fare.
“If we can’t get this done we will go on strike…we will cease operations here… this is wasting time.”
Kaieteur News understands that the two main distributors of the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) have remained closed since Wednesday due to a fuel shortage.
Operators said that because of the shortage, the prices of fuel went up, forcing them to travel to Georgetown to acquire fuel. Thinking that this would have solved the issue, the drivers said that they were given tickets by the police for being out of zone.
When this publication spoke to a number of commuters, it was related that the new fare was never communicated to them and as such they refused to pay it.
“You just can’t go so and raise the fare; you got to communicate with us. My only problem with them is that they taking out more than $20 dollars and that is overdoing it,” Caroline Stewart said.
Stewart added that the fare was raised since last Wednesday and commuters agreed to pay until they were told not to pay the increased fare via radio and television.
Another traveler said that he was harassed by a minibus conductor who demanded $40 dollars more on a regular short drop.
“I seriously feel that dese people dem doing it bareface and aggressive. It get so bad that now they assaulting we”, the man said.
Travelling along the West Coast this publication saw a number of fuel dealers without their price boards on display. At some pumps there was no indication at what cost fuel was being sold, because the displays were covered with a sticker or a slogan.
At a gas station in Vreed-en-Hoop, the price of gas was set at $249 per litre while at another dealer in Crane, the price of fuel was at a cost of $259 per litre. Prices of fuel at some privately-owned stations varied from $245 to $269 per litre.
Meanwhile, Narine Singh, Manager of the Waller’s Delight branch of Guyoil said that the fuel company refused to give him fuel. Narine said that he was told that there was a shortage of fuel but to date he has not yet received any word.
Because of the shortage, Narine said that he was forced to send home staffers and close the business. The manager said that he only has two watchmen employed with him currently.

5 thoughts on “Route 32 minibus owners threaten to cease operations”

Ashley Singh August 16, 2013 at 7:31 am

The operations of the entire transportation system should be assessed and legal regulations put in place. Bus operators are of the opinion that they can do as they feel please.
1. Kay August 16, 2013 at 11:32 am
  
  I say bring back public transportation, ministers driving around in big Cars, while poor people suffering, how’s that being allowed to happen. Cut their pay and put money into public transportation. All the high living need to stop for these government people
Deobalram August 16, 2013 at 12:05 pm

Anybody remember “The yellow buses ” that ran from the Stabroek market square? A very efficient private company, and always on schedule . We nationalize it and you then you know the rest !
Akeem jagan August 16, 2013 at 7:04 pm

They should bring back big buses
rayon harte August 22, 2013 at 11:10 am

Maybe if anyone of u all was the owner of a mini bus and had to pay installment, you all would have commented in the favor of the bus operators…Guyanese can pay 5000 dollars to go to a show and cant pay 100 dollars more to get home…we can buy phone card to talk shit on the phone and cant pay 100 more to go home….. we can buy a pack of cigarettes to smoke and damage our lungs and cant pay to go home, those conductors and drivers has family to provide for as well but all u Guyanese just small minded.. …… is it fair for the gas price to go up and the bus fair remains the same??? Why u all don’t tell the president to reduce the heavy duty that we have to pay when we buy a vehicle in this country..