The Stabroek area was a sea of confusion yesterday morning as minibus operators sought to verify their new parking places. Some of them were adamantly against the new arrangements, while others said they would move but not until proper infrastructure was put into place for them at the new area.
Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn said at a press conference held at City Hall later in the day, that the arrangements for the reassignment of bus parks were not going to change.
Meanwhile the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) and the minister are at loggerheads over the M&CC signing a contract with the Georgetown Public Trans-portation Association (GPTA) for the operation of the car park at the western half of the Stabroek Market square; the new location for the routes 40, 45 and 48 minibuses.
Mayor Hamilton Green said at the press conference that the decision taken by the council to assign the park to GPTA was one that is beneficial to the council. He said that after extensive discussions with the association, preliminary contracts were signed. Green also said that the GPTA promised to improve the environment and the council had undertaken to carry out regular inspections to ensure that the details of the contract were being kept.
Benn said he did not understand how the council could have assigned the park to “some organisation purporting to be a minibus association,” without first going through the necessary ministries. And he said that for now minibuses would be parked there without the collection of any revenue.
The mayor told Stabroek News after the press conference that this move by the minister would further reduce the council’s revenue base. Green noted that the M&CC had operated the car park as a paying facility for 17 years before handing it over to GPTA from May 1 this year. He said the council had expected to earn more revenue from the privatization of the facility.
Benn had said that the matter would have to be further discussed.
When Stabroek News visited the area yesterday morning, Route 41 (Guyhoc/South Ruimveldt) minibuses were of St Andrew’s Primary School on Croal Street, which has been earmarked for the 41 buses. The route 40, 45 and 48 buses could not move to their new location – the car park in front of the Stabroek Market because market vendors’ vehicles and wholesalers were still occupying this area.
The confusion prompted a visit by Benn, Deputy Mayor Robert Williams, Town Clerk Beulah Williams and other officials and minibus operators converged on the group to voice their numerous opinions on the situation.
The minister put to rest concerns that minibuses would have to pay to enter the new parking area. He said that although the matter was still under discussion, the new rules had to be put into action as of today, adding that defaulters would face the consequences.
Traffic Chief Neil Semple and a number of other officers were on the road to reinforce the new rules yesterday.
At the press conference, Benn said surveys carried out as regards space for the three sets of buses along with private vehicles, revealed that the occupancy level of the parking area was always low and therefore all the vehicles should fit comfortably.
Bus drivers for the three routes and vendors had a different opinion. Troy Wilson, a Route 48 bus owner said it was not practical to move one set of buses and put another. He said that at peak hours the area would be congested since minibuses from three routes would occupy it. Wilson opined that the Route 41 minibuses would have been better placed at the car park area, since there were fewer minibuses on that route.
The mayor said that proposals had been made and approved some time ago for parcels of land in the city to be acquired and made into bus parks to ease the congestion in the Stabroek area. He questioned why this had not been done.
The allocation of new bus parks was prompted by a court order issued by the Chief Justice after a business group had moved to the courts for the removal of buses along the Avenue of the Republic. Stakeholders, including the M&CC, representatives of the minibus association, Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Local Government had met on Saturday for discussions.
As it now stands, Route 40 (Kitty/Campbellville), Route 45 (Main Street/Lamaha/GPHC), and Route 48 (Sophia) will park on the western side of Stabroek Market Square between Croal Street and Brickdam.
Buses plying Route 41 (Guyhoc/South) and Route 46 (Lodge) will park on the southern side of Croal Street between Avenue of the Republic and Cornhill Street. UG/Industry (Route 44) buses will park on the southern side of Regent Street between Avenue of the Republic and Hincks Street and on East Street between New Market and Middle Streets where a new bus park has been established. East/West Ruimveldt buses (Route 47) will park on the western side of Longden Street between America and Croal streets and on southern side of America Street between Avenue of the Republic and Longden Street.
Georgetown/Molsen Creek (Route 63) will now park on the northern side of Commerce Street between Avenue of the Republic and Hincks Street, and Georgetown/Rosignol (Route 50) will park on the southern side of South Street between Avenue of the Republic and Hincks Street.
Further, Georgetown/ Mahaica (Route 44) will now park on the southern side of South Street between Water and Hincks Streets and on the northern side of Commerce Street between Water and Londgen Streets.
When Stabroek News checked yesterday there were no buses at the newly appointed park at East Street. (Melissa Charles)
