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Traffic Chief rectifies situation between 43 minibus drivers and cops
Shortly after Kaieteur News published an article titled, “Linden minibus drivers
Some of the drivers who were being bullied
allege bullying by cops”, the route 43 minibus operators have now confirmed that the Traffic Chief, Ian Amsterdam, has intervened, and the problem has been resolved.
In a recent interview with the newspaper, one of the minibus drivers explained that there has been significant improvement in their situation. “We went to the Traffic Chief and he gave us justice… He said that there is no way that a policeman could get involved in business that takes place on the park… they are only responsible for what happens on the road.”
This, according to the driver, was the chief’s response to the dilemma where a group, which consisted of 30 minibus drivers, alleged that they were being bullied for refusing to comply with a $1000 fee to a self-proclaimed “Linden Bus Drivers’ Association.” This $1000 fee is to be paid in addition to a $100 compulsory fee stipulated by the Town Council.
The $1000 fee is to be paid to the “association” every time a minibus joins the park at Linden to take on passengers. The drivers said that they were yet to be informed as to what this $1000 is for. In addition, they explained that members of the association had enlisted the help of some
Scene of a marked off section of the 43 minibus loading area in Linden.
police officers in their scheme to solicit funds, and bully other drivers who refuse to comply with their demand.
The drivers explained that as they finished loading their minibuses at the park, Police would be waiting around the corner to relieve them of the passengers, and escort the vehicle to the Mackenzie Police Station.
The drivers said that the police had been harassing them constantly, and had even resorted to taking some of them before the court, to answer to trumped up traffic charges for refusal to pay the $1000 fee.
According to the drivers, as soon as the Chief was informed of this absurdity, he immediately stomped his authority, and the situation was rectified.
“The traffic chief spoke to the police that were giving us a hard time and since then, we don’t have any problems. He told us that we don’t have to go into the association’s line system, so we started our own line system where we take turns loading our buses,” one driver explained.
Kaieteur News understands that the members of the “association” have since cordoned off a special area on the bus park where their members would line up to take on passengers. According to the drivers, the association has gained the necessary permission from the Town Council to collect $8000 as membership fee for the association, and are enforcing the $1000 fee on their own membership.
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