Lawlessness of the mini-bus culture must be confronted

Oct 19, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
Please permit a place to highlight some issues relating to our public transportation system that needs urgent address by the authorities. The lawlessness on our country’s roadways continues to be critical issues that are affecting our lives daily. It is with deep concern that I plead with the government to intervene immediately so that lives can be saved, and some level of stability can come to the public transportation system.
The vehicles used by commuters daily are all owned by private individuals thus, we are forced to accept whatever is done in those vehicles. We are forced to listen to music that portrays sex, violence, materialism, self-praise and disrespect for especially the female gender.
Passengers would request drivers and conductors to lower music, but that request always comes with some level of disrespect either from the driver or the conductor; ‘This is my vehicle and if you don’t like it get out.’ That statement is among some of the popular sentiments expressed by drivers or conductors on a daily basis.
Very often students are exposed to vulgar lyrics emulating from these same vehicles. When we travel we should be comfortable in every way. We should not be bombarded by vulgar and loud music coming from boom boxes. There are some passengers who enjoy music but those can use their headphones so the others can enjoy peace.
A normal minibus with fifteen seats can only accommodate a certain amount of weight and if that weight limit is disregarded, then that minibus can turn over, crash, wheels can be punctured and passengers can be very uncomfortable. Each bar in a bus is designed for three passengers but conductors place four to five persons within one bar.
The conductor’ seat often carries six persons with two standing. This gives us a total of approximately twenty to thirty persons in a fifteen seater bus. When a passenger tries to protest the conductor’s action that passenger would be disrespected and subsequently would have to exit the bus or ‘ride along’. Even with the discomfort passengers are expected to pay the correct fare .The conductors will never accept ‘short money’.
Speeding is a major concern that needs urgent attention .There are bus drivers who drive at rates no less than 100 mph on the East Bank roadways. The roads are filled with bumps and many “waves.” Many drivers do not see the need to drive within the range but rather think only about ‘making fast money’. If an accident occurs the passengers will not be entitled to anything much, and subsequently will have to stand their own medical bills once injuries are sustained.
Another critical issue is touting on the park. Touts hold on to your bags, hold your hands, blow in our faces, shouts at us in order to load vehicles .If we ignore some of those touts then we are prone to some form of verbal abuse. A person can be surrounded with five or more touts trying to grasp their attention. There is some order at some parks but yet still we see touting is a major business in some bus parks.
There is also the issue of littering. On numerous occasions these same touts, drivers and conductors are seen littering our environment. Bottles, boxes and bags are thrown on our roadways .Who will clean it up? What happen to the bins in buses? I guess it was just for a period of time. I hope they learn to appreciate our environment very soon.
Some may argue that the government cannot take control of the transportation system because vehicles are privately owned. Government may not be in a position to control the entire system but sterner penalties can be implemented to ensure that commuters are safe and comfortable when travelling. Some may even suggest that we all should own our own vehicles but how can we purchase vehicles with this type of salary?
Many times traffic  officers allow this type of practice for the sake of making a ‘small change’ on the side .On numerous occasions  traffic officers were seen accepting monies from drivers, just to end a matter. Some drivers even claim that some traffic officers collect their monies daily, and boast that the law cannot harm them because they can easily purchase an officer for as cheap as two thousand Guyana dollars.
I plead with the traffic officers to act with dignity. If a driver is not abiding with the law, deal with him or her accordingly. Do not compromise for just “a small change.” Many lives are being affected by the lawlessness on the roadways. Many voted for change and we expect that. After a night of work and a packed day at the University I wish to travel in peace without being harassed, squeezed or having loud vulgar music being played in my ears. I am looking forward for order and stability in our transportation system.
Shuniese Mitchell
University Student

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