Exploitation of East Coast commuters must stop

Mar 15, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
It is with great apprehension that I write about the exploitation faced by commuters when using public transportation for the East Coast Demerara route after coming off work at 16:15hrs on a daily basis.
As an employee who awaits transportation in front of The Hand in Hand Group of Companies, North Road, along with my colleagues and fellow members of the traveling public, where the No. 44, 50 and 63 buses traverse, we are at the mercy of this immoral action by both minibus drivers and conductors, mainly the No. 44 buses.
Both minibus drivers and conductors indicate to passengers before entering their bus that they have to pay a fare of $200 or more to travel along the East Coast Demerara route. The regular fare, as we all know, is $100 from Georgetown to Annandale/ Strasphey, and an additional $20 as the journey goes on. Myself and fellow commuters are outrageously subjected to pay double or more of the normal fare to get to our destinations daily.
Passengers refusing to comply with these demands are verbally and physically assaulted when they exit the minibuses. There have been instances where minibus conductors took away the handbags of female passengers and without consent, took out money from their purses and then they drove away.
In order to get home early, one has no alternative but to give in and put up with this ridiculous behaviour or remain stranded at the bus park. This already puts a strain on commuters’ pockets since it seems that if you do not have $200 in your possession, you are not going home. This practice is illegal and passengers feel that they can do nothing about it and have to endure this unscrupulous behaviour daily.
It is very nerve-racking after a hard day’s work to watch this go on and nothing is being done by the relevant authorities. There have been several occasions in which the Minibus Association, Consumers’ Association and the Minister of Transport had promised to conduct investigations into the unregulated hike in minibus fares across various routes starting from 16:00 hrs in the afternoon, when commuters are asked to pay double or even triple the normal fare when the Police are conducting road blocks.
I appeal to those in authority to enforce the correct fare structure for the East Coast Demerara route minibuses and to persons found guilty, the necessary criminal charges be instituted against them – Owners, Drivers and Conductors of minibuses.
Chitramanie Rupnarain

Latest News

Exploitation of East Coast commuters must stop

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Semi-Finals line up set for Maid Marian Wheat Up Women’s Cup 2024

Young Warriors Cricket Club fulfills its annual...

Chase’s Academic lift 2024 KFC Goodwill Int’l...

Remaining teams in the inaugural K&S/One...

Capital FC, Hi Stars, Silver Shattas win as...

Renuka, Mandhana consign West Indies to record...

Features/Columnists

This is our city

Breaking the Chains of Poverty: A need for political will

Jagdeo de GOAT

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Exploitation of East Coast commuters must stop

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]