Govt. considers regulatory body for public transport

Jun 05, 2018 News

The Government believes that the time has come for a more organised framework for public transportation.
Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson told reporters yesterday that Government is considering the establishment of a regulatory body to govern minibus and boat operators.
Over the past two weeks, minibus operators have staged protests for fare increases due to rising fuel prices. Operators have engaged the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Business.
According to Patterson, the regulatory body will be similar to the Public Utility Commission (PUC) which regulates rates and the operations of providers of water, electricity and public telecommunication services.
“I do think it’s time we look at a regulatory body. Maybe under the PUC or maybe under Consumer Affairs. It is something that we have decided is needed so that they can regulate fares not only for the minibus drivers, but we are also talking about other areas like the speedboat operators,” Patterson explained.
He stated that he has engaged Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, privately, on the public transportation sector.
“It signals that we need a larger and more comprehensive discussion on transportation. I do think that we have to look at a transportation regulatory body, like you have the PUC which regulates electricity and water,” Patterson stated.
Regulation of the public transport sector is quite common in several countries and can be set up as strictly Government-run or a public/private partnership.
Generally, the regulator develops policy that will meet the demand of the transport sector and provide them a good level and convenient cost.
The regulator also governs location of facilities, network and routes.
There are calls for the local authorities to rein in the prevailing chaos in the minibus industry.
Thousands of Guyanese depend on hundreds of privately-owned busses widely recognized as the most common means of public transportation. Divided into various numbered-zones based on the route, minibuses over the years became an economic earner for many.
But long-serving President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews believes that the situation, which is fuelled by greed, has gotten out of control, and Government must step in.
Andrews believes that Government should consider a temporary ban on minibus imports.
“I don’t know why they’re bringing in so many buses. As far as we are concerned, they’ve got too many buses in the country. What they have to do is work out a pact where they have to put some stop to the buses that are coming in,” Andrews stated.

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