It’s time for the government to legally set minibus and hire car fares

May 22, 2026 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Peeping Tom…

(Kaieteur News) – Every day, thousands of people in Guyana stand by the roadside, waiting for public transportation. They have one question on their minds: “How much will it cost me?” And the sad truth is, nobody can give them a straight answer.

We have a serious problem with public transportation. Operators are raising fares and the government is just watching from the sidelines, saying they haven’t “approved” any increase. But let’s be honest: does the government actually have the power to approve or disapprove fares right now? This writer believes the answer is no. There is no clear law that gives the government or the police the authority to stop a driver from changing his price.

So, we are stuck in a terrible no-man’s land. Hire car drivers charge what they want. Minibuses are increasing their fares. Passengers pay or argue. And the government bluffs, saying no increase is allowed, but takes no real action.

Based purely on the price of petrol and spare parts, there is no reason for a fare increase. Just before the pandemic, petrol hit $230 per liter. Today, thanks to a massive government subsidy of more than G$600 per gallon, the price at the pump at GUYOIL is only $208 per liter. That is cheaper than before the pandemic. Spare parts and tires have gone up in price, yes. But petrol is the daily fuel for these vehicles, and it is lower now. So, if we only look at fuel, fares should not be rising. Yet, they are rising anyway.

Why? Because the real problem is not petrol. The real problem is traffic and competition.

More and more people in Guyana now own their own cars. That means fewer passengers for the minibuses and hire cars. At the same time, our roads are so clogged with congestion that a trip that used to take twenty minutes now takes forty-five minutes. A minibus that used to make six trips a day now makes only three or four.

So, drivers are raising fares not because fuel is expensive, but because they are making fewer trips and carrying fewer passengers. They need to cover the same costs from less work. I understand that. It is a fair point. But raising fares in a secret, random way is not the answer.

This brings me to my main argument: The government must stop ‘pampezetting’ and do the decent thing. Regulate the fares under law. Set clear, legal prices for minibuses and hire cars.

Right now, when you get into a hire car that is not attached to a formal taxi service, you never know the fare for a ‘short drop’. It might be $800. It might be $1,000. It might be $2000. You only find out when you arrive or if you ask. Some of the prices charged amount to extortion. The government should protect consumers from that kind of abuse.

But regulation does not mean punishing drivers. It means giving everyone a fair deal.

Here is how it can work:

First, the government should sit down with transport operators, not bluff from a distance. Bring in the minibus associations, the hire car owners, and consumer representatives. Look at the real costs: not just petrol, but tires, oil, spare parts, insurance, and—most importantly—time lost to traffic congestion. Then set a fare that is fair to both the driver and the passenger.

Second, put that fare into law. Print a simple fare chart for every bus and hire car. Make it illegal to charge more than the law allows. Give the police the power to fine drivers who overcharge. That will stop the random price increases overnight.

Third, update the fares regularly—say, every six months. If petrol goes up, fares can go up a little. If traffic gets worse, adjust for that too. But do it openly, with notice, not in secret. That way, passengers can plan their budgets, and drivers can earn a living without cheating anyone.

Some people will say the government has no business setting fares. They argue that the free market should decide. But here is the truth: public transport is an essential service, like water or electricity. When the market fails—when passengers have no power and drivers act out of desperation—the government must step in. Otherwise, the poorest people in our society will be the ones who suffer most. They depend on minibuses and hire cars to get to work, to school, to the clinic.

So, I say to the government: stop bluffing. You say no fare increase has been approved. But since you have no legal power to approve or disapprove, that statement means nothing. Instead, pass a law. Set the fares. Give the police teeth to enforce them. Review them fairly every few months. Protect both the driver and the passenger.

Guyanese are tired of guessing the fare every time they step into a vehicle. We are tired of traffic jams and random price hikes. We need order, fairness, and action. No more delays. No more excuses. Regulate the fares now.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.) 

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• hire car fares, minibus, Peeping Tom, Public transportation

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