Exorbitant bus fares causing havoc at the Georgetown to Parika Bus Park

Nov 03, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
Two days ago, I was the victim of two obnoxious events. Firstly, I was physically and verbally abused by a bus conductor due to the fact that I refused to give him his extortionate bus fare which he increased by over 300 percent and secondly I was almost forced out of a bus and threatened for refusing to pay the same fare.
I’m a second year University of Guyana student at the Faculty of Technology, and doing eight courses do take up a lot of study time, hence resulting in using the public transportation late at night. For the past four years, after six p.m., the drivers at the Georgetown to Parika bus park increase their bus fare up to $500 and say that they are only going to Parika.
The law states that once a public bus operates at its route, persons shall pay the correct fare where he/she is disembarking. If a bus driver ignores this law, he shall be penalized. At the Georgetown to Parika bus park, it appeared that this law seems to be non-existent and it is ironic to see a police outpost next to the bus park and the police give the impression of not being concerned in enforcing this law.
On Wednesday, October 30, I entered a bus plying the Georgetown to Parika route, and the driver requested $500 per person no matter where they were stopping off. At my destination, I disembarked and paid the conductor $200 which is more than the correct fare. I walked off without asking for my change. The conductor then shouted at me demanding ‘where is my money, this is a Parika bus, pay the Parika fare.’ I kept on walking in silence. The conductor then ran and drew alongside me while demanding his money. I struggled to keep my distance as he was pointing his finger in my face yelling at me where the money is. I responded that the government implemented a fare for each destination involving any public modes of transportation. With that said, I then attempted to walk away from the conductor. As I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, the conductor tapped me on my shoulder and started to verbally abuse me. He then folded his fist and hit me on my shoulder while demanding his fare.
I stumbled and tried to retreat to a safe place only to be accosted by the driver of the vehicle who was in the process of taking off his belt, and subsequently holding it in his hand as a weapon.
Fortunately, a member of my community quickly came to my rescue.
I jotted down the licence number and made a report to the police. A rank assured me that the traffic police will have the information and they will attempt to arrest the culprits. After two days, I have still not received a response from the police.
After these incidents, I have no idea how to take it to a higher level as it clearly shows that the police are not enforcing the law.
We as Guyanese need to unite and end this criminal act. I am pleading with the government to help us.
Christmah Deenanauth

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