Minibus operators are permitted to be above the law

Feb 07, 2023 Letters

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Dear Editor,

It appears that the minibus operators in Region 3, especially some of them plying the Parika to Vreed-en Hoop route, are above the law particularly,  those who do not join the line at Vreed-en Hoop or Parika.

Some of these minibus operators have been playing their music at very high decibels for years now. When some of them are reminded by passengers about the laws that govern their operations, they retaliate and bluntly refuse to turn their music down. Travelling is supposed to be a pleasant experience. This is not the case in these minibuses. Whether it is early in the morning, midday or evening, the operators play music at extremely high decibels. On one occasion, it was observed that although a baby just about 1-2 months old was in the bus the driver played the music very loudly. This is unconscionable.  On another occasion there was a young primary school child in another bus and songs with obscene lyrics were played. Furthermore, on another occasion I was in a bus and an audio track promoting oral sex was being played. It was almost like looking at pornography.

Some of the buses even have pictures of women who are naked except for a pair of skimpy underwear. Editor, some of these conductors and drivers are even stopping en route to buy alcoholic beverages to consume on the way.

Editor, we cannot continue to allow these operators to have their way with us. Why do young children and the general public have to endure this outrageous obscenity that is forced upon us? Why must we sit idly by and allow them to dump their trash in the young immature minds of our school children. This will only contribute to more chaos in our society.

One renowned speaker- Jim Rohn said, “What a man puts into his mental factory (mind) weaves the fabric of his life.” Furthermore, he posited the question, “Can you imagine dumping a bale of trash into your mental factory and having a rich dynamic positive life?” He concluded, “It’s like trying to make a cake with cement.” Additionally, there’s a computer acronym GIGO which means ‘Garbage In Garbage Ogut’. The same is true of our minds. If we allow the violence, vulgarity and filthy content to be dumped into our minds by these minibus operators it will result in unwholesome and negative thoughts, which ultimately contributes towards devious and worthless behaviour. It is for this reason that hundreds of parents are faced with the burden of contracting buses to transport their children to school.

Editor,  I think this indecency has been going on for so long because the Ministry of Home Affairs and the law enforcement officers are sleeping on the job with their eyes wide open. It may also be because the bus operators have the commander and police of Region3 in their pockets.  Editor, if we choose to neglect these minibus operators we will choke on the dust of our own negligence. Neglecting to act will give these operators a free rein to continue amplifying their indecent behaviours and engaging in an assault on good morals, values and standards.

The Police Commissioner, the Region Three Commander and those officers who they supervise can them prove themselves worthy of their stripes by arresting this lawlessness meted out by bus conductors and drivers to their passengers. If they cannot enforce the law governing operation of minibuses for public transport, then in my analysis the Police Commissioner and the Region Three Commander and those under their charge all are like a bunch of jokers wearing stripes on their uniform that means nothing.

If the Government and the police force are serious about reducing the crime rate in the near and distant future they should simply enforce the law.

Editor, those in authority already have the Legislation and the Judiciary in place to arrest this issue. Every year one can find a letter in the newspapers condemning this lawlessness in minibuses. Furthermore, this is a crime in broad daylight that needs little effort to catch the criminals. What else does the Commissioner and Commander need? Are they waiting for violent confrontation between commuters and bus operators?  I hope not.

Editor, what is very disturbing, shocking and sickening is that these very bus operators take their vehicles on a yearly basis to be inspected so that they can receive the fitness certificate. Do these inspection officers not see all the music equipment installed in these buses? Are these inspection officers blind? Editor, if blind persons are given such an important task we will all fall into a ditch.

To remedy this problem, I am suggesting that a grace period of one week be given for the operators to remove their music systems from their minibuses. If they fail to remove them after the grace period then their music systems should be seized and burned.

Another suggestion is that if the Minister of Home Affairs and those under his charge cannot enforce the law about music in buses, they should simply resign and have others who are more competent to enforce the law, take their position. Otherwise, the Guyanese public is paying them to encourage slackness and lawlessness. I also would like the Minister of Human Services and Social Protection to get involved in this fight against lawlessness and indecency.

The Ministry can launch campaigns to sensitise and empower the public to stand against bus operators who operate in this lawless manner. While I commend this government for being proactive in infrastructural development I urge them through the relevant ministries to exercise the same urgency and seriousness to enforce the law. In doing so we will all enjoy a more law abiding, happier and more civilised society. Less crime in society brings about lasting happiness and peace of mind as opposed to cash grants which only brings happiness for a short time. I would like President Ali to know that those qualities in a society are also a magnet that would attract and keep investors as opposed to condoning a society that behaves in a lawlessness manner. I would also like President Ali to contemplate whether he would like to be remembered as president who addressed mass bullyism by bus operators towards commuters.

If not he would be remembered as the President who presided over gross lawlessness in his homeland; a Head of a Lawless state. Conversely, President Dr. Irfaan Ali could further distinguish himself from all the presidents in the recent past by dealing seriously with this lawlessness.  I am sure President Ali enforces the rules in his home. Any good father does. I urge him to ensure the relevant authorities enforce the laws governing our country.

Finally Editor, every religion celebrates the triumph of good over evil. I am pleading with the authorities, do not sit idly by and allow evil to triumph over good.

Those who sit idly by and see lawlessness happening and do nothing about it are just as lawless. They do not need to play along in the old the game when they have the power to change the game.

Yours respectfully,

B. Persaud– Seriously Concerned Citizen

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• B. Persaud, minibus, operators, Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop

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