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Passengers criticize ‘touts’ for unethical behaviour
By Feona Morrison
Touts operating on the routes 42 (Georgetown/Timehri) and 40 (Kitty/Campbellville)
This young man was caught in action on the route 42 bus park.
bus parks are being highly criticized for the way in which they solicit passengers on a daily basis. While touting has been outlawed in Guyana it has become a popular way of obtaining an income for many young men and women.
With a high level of persuasion needed and no form of academic qualification, touts take up their positions at the various bus parks from as early as 6:00hrs to see who can load a minibus ‘the fastest’.
From observation, many of them come prepared for the weather with either an umbrella or cap in their pants pocket or tucked aside in a bus. They not only use the umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun or rain, but also the many passengers they persuade to travel with them.
Persons using public transportation have complained of touts being aggressive, shouting loudly, using abusive language and reacting angrily when persons are reluctant to travel with them.
A second form student from the St. Mary’s High School who uses the route 42 bus park to get to and from school said, “These boys annoying. They just come and hold on to people school bag and pull them to go in their bus. Then they want pack you like sardine in a tin and expect you to pay the full fare.”
A tout trying to load this route 40 minibus yesterday afternoon.
Many persons said that sometimes soliciting passengers for some of them can turn into a game of tug-o-war all because they get some feeling of contentment when they are the first to load a bus.
Kaieteur News caught up with Mr. Curtis, a pensioner who resides in Kitty, Georgetown. Mr. Curtis stated that although touting is an honest way of making money; touts need to conduct themselves in a professional manner.
“Some of these boys does trick you and tell you that the bus needs two or three more passengers. When them carry you to the bus or the bus roll up you is the first one inside.”
The elderly man pointed out that these “youngsters” need to be properly attired and to take care of their personal hygiene.
Touts have become known for grabbing on to passenger’s personal luggage. In some cases one tout might escort a passenger to a bus while another takes their bag to another vehicle.
A female passenger explained that she does not see them as a problem since she has not encountered any bad treatment. However, she pointed out that touts need to carry themselves in a respectable manner and learn to accept when passengers refuse to travel with them. The woman stated that she understands that most of these men have a family to take care of and they are just out there toiling instead of robbing people.
“I don’t see them as a problem. At least they better than nuff young people wuh deh bout the place robbing and making people life uncomfortable.”
However, while passengers are hoping that the touts could be more courteous and allow passengers to travel in which ever vehicle they want, many minibus drivers are saying that the touting system have gotten out of hand
Some bus drivers express that these young men who help load buses have become very violent and they are breaking the rules of how the bus system on these two parks are supposed to work.
One bus driver explained that buses at these parks work with a line system and would take turns in having their buses filled. He said that the touts would give preference to “hot plate” buses. The drivers, of these buses, he said would bore the line and solicit passengers regularly.
“Is like these drivers don’t got no regards for police. They know they suppose to deh in the line and yet they does be loading their bus outside. Them police does be out here patrolling and yet them banna does continue with their lawlessness. When them notice the police spot them, see how quick them does hustling fuh tell them touts lock them door fuh drive off.”
On the other hand, there are bus drivers who opined that touts are very helpful to them since they cannot drive and load a bus at the same time.
Another bus driver said, “I really don’t see them as a problem. Some of them got to up their game. But they does come in really handy especially on a slow day. They does go all out to bring passengers to get a few dollars.”
When Kaieteur News visited the bus parks yesterday, it was evident that these touts were insolent. Many of them were seen shouting and running in the faces of persons as they walked past and this was done in the presence of traffic policemen.
However, there were a few of them who approached passengers and greeted them nicely before enquiring from them if they were travelling.
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