Zone 42 (Georgetown/ Timehri) minibuses went on strike yesterday morning because traffic ranks were preventing them from going all the way to Timehri but the matter was resolved by mid-afternoon.
And about 20 of the minibuses that routinely go straight to Timehri have been told that they must remove the zone 49 number they had placed on their buses earlier this week.
About 20 of the zone 42 buses changed their zone number to 49 with the intention of working from Georgetown straight to Timehri while the other buses would work “short drop” along the East Bank Highway.
The present zone 42 operators are not in agreement with this. The zone ‘49’ operators said that they are not aware of who gave the orders but they had changed their zone number and agreed to the arrangements passed down to them by their representatives who had met with the traffic authorities.
Raymond Warsali, a zone 42 operator, explained that all the buses that traverse the East Bank Highway have to pay the same amount for road service and revenue licences so it would not be fair if all the buses are not allowed to pick up passengers for Timehri. He said that the agreements were made unknown to the zone 42 operators.
Warsali said that after they initiated the strike the Traffic Chief in ‘A’ division held discussions with the operators and the decision was taken that all the buses could operate to Timehri.
Warsali opined that the authorities would not want to lose revenue by cutting back on the price for the licences for some 140 minibuses and therefore all the buses would be allowed to work all the way to Timehri if they so desire.
By mid-afternoon yesterday all things were back to normal at the zone 42 bus park.
Meanwhile zone 41 (Guyhoc/South), 46 (Lodge) and 45 (Lamaha/Albert) minibuses are now occupying the area in front of the Stabroek Market.
