-following meeting between President, groups
The public transport associations yesterday agreed not to increase fares after reaching an agreement with President Bharrat Jagdeo for a two-week reprieve when they will meet again to address maintenance costs.
According to the Government Information Agency (GINA) minibus operators had complained that the continuous increase in fuel prices coupled with the price for spare parts and the high cost of living was affecting them. They said it was no longer feasible for them to operate the various routes using the current fare structure. Some operators had initiated arbitrary increases in fares and had staged several strikes in recent weeks.
Yesterday’s meeting included the Road Users Association in Berbice, the Skeldon Tapir Association, the Timehri Mini Bus Association, the Mahaica Mini-Bus Association, the East Berbice/Corentyne Mini-Bus Association, the General Mini-Bus Association (GMBA) and the Guyana Public Transportation Association (GPTA). The associations had met previously with Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad and had agreed not to increase fares unless the price for gasoline reached $1,000 per gallon or more. Nevertheless, this agreement did not hold up when as recent as Wednesday some operators staged strikes while others plying routes such as Linden increased fares.
At the meeting with the president yesterday, the GMBA and the GPTA gave assurances that buses falling under their purview did not strike and were operating as usual. Prashad acknowledged that the minibus associations had a number of concerns but he said the agreement with government entailed government intervention whenever there was a price increase. The minister said too arbitrary increases by some operators will force government to re-examine the option of reintroducing ‘big buses’ for public transportation. Prashad told the associations that the president had put this decision on hold until they meet him again in two weeks time to discuss the issue of spare parts and prices. In the interim, Prashad said the associations have assured Jagdeo that there will be no price increases or striking and that they will operate as usual.
Meanwhile, GPTA acting president Nicholas Nnamani said it is concerned about the skyrocketing costs of spare parts. He said “we are having our dialogue and we are seeking a reasonable avenue to come to that point of understanding. It is not our wish to really channel towards an increase.” Nnamani said he is advising his operators that there are no increases and that short drops stand at $60.
Advisor to the President of the GMBA Hilbert Archer echoed Nnamani’s concerns. He said the cost of spare parts has increased, particularly the cost of batteries which was $13,000 a year ago and is now $27,000. He said all parties have agreed not to increase prices and, “We have held our end of the bargain because our operators are still on the road.” At the same time, the associations have said that they have asked government to reduce the excise tax on gasoline by another 3%.
The meeting was held at the Office of the President.
