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The travelling public needs to be treated with some degree of courtesy
DEAR EDITOR,
Over the last four months I have commented about the culture of lawlessness, and bullyism displayed by the Mini Bus Operators, Conductors and Touts at some of the parks. Sometimes I wonder if the powers that be ever spend a few minutes at the Georgetown Mini Bus Park, and look at the pattern of behaviour that is on display.
I would say that this wrong was going on for so long that, even the right now would look wrong. While we must understand and appreciate how important a service they are providing, they must be made to understand that the travelling public needs to be treated with some degree of courtesy, and while the Code of Conduct is clearly defined and spelt out, it has to be enforced by the Guyana Police Force.
There are times I get the impression that it is because only a certain group of persons use this service on a daily basis that this unacceptable situation has been allowed to continue throughout the years.
I know Mr. Eon Andrews, I first met him when we were serving members of the Guyana Police Force and that was early in 1974. I appreciate greatly what he is trying to achieve as President of the United Minibus Union, but to my mind he is not getting the level of support he so desperately needs – he has his work cut out.
Most of the drivers and conductors believe that his aims and objectives are not in their interest, hence the non-cooperation. They can only earn an amount of money on a daily basis by being lawless, disrespectful and disorderly, and last, but certainly not least, speeding.
The public would be unpleasantly surprised, should the Police Traffic Department release a figure stating over the last decade, how many lives have been lost by speeding mini buses.
A few weeks ago I was at the Anna Regina Mini Bus Park when a woman and her two school-aged children exited a minibus, and there was a heated argument between the conductor of the bus regarding the fare for herself and her children. She was on her way from Charity to Suddie, and all of this abuse she suffered at the hands of this conductor happened in full view of a Woman Police Sergeant, fully dressed in her Traffic Uniform.
I firmly believe that if there was a fare structure displayed in these mini buses that ply the #21 route, that embarrassing situation may have been avoided. What was totally surprising was that this Sergeant said nothing. When I enquired from her why this and many clauses of the Code of Conduct are not enforced she did not respond.
This is the third letter I have written pertaining to this fare structure not being displayed, I don’t want to sound as if I am being monotonous.
It was good news that the Police in ‘G’ Division carried out a campaign that netted several persons – namely mini bus operators, and detained a lot of buses for violation of the Code of Conduct and other traffic-related offences. It was certainly not too little nor too late. These are actions that the Police in the region must be commended for.
On a related issue, it is difficult to understand why a police rank in uniform cannot be posted at the Supenaam Ferry Stelling daily, particularly during expected arrival and departure time of the ferry. Some of us will remember that several police ranks used to be always at the Adventure Ferry Stelling daily when that facility was in operation long before the scheduled time of arrival and departure time of the M.V. Malali. On several occasions I had to – like many others – use that road leading to the Supenaam Ferry Stelling, and the confusion and lawlessness that took place there, mainly due to the absence of a Police in uniform.
This is one issue that the Sergeant (SO) at Police at Aurora Station needs to address immediately. I do not know the authorized strength nor the actual strength of this Station, but I think this may be a case of not properly managing what you have.
Archie W. Cordis
Former Police Officer
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