Minibus operators for the UG/Industry route say that they are not comfortable on the northern side of Regent Street between Avenue of the Republic and Hinck Street which has been assigned to them to park but their complaints seem to be falling on deaf ears.
Stabroek News revisited the area where minibuses from five different routes are sharing the space on both sides of the street.
Plaisance, Better Hope and Vryheid’s Lust buses are parked on the southern side of the street while the UG and Industry buses are parked on the northern side.
All the operators who spoke to this newspaper said that it is a challenge to work properly in the congested space but they do not have much choice in the matter, since they were forced by a court order to remove from their former parking area on the Avenue of the Republic.
They noted that the situation gets worse when it rains and South Street floods, and that happens with just a few showers.
Meanwhile, at the Stabroek market square where the zone 41 (Guyhoc/South), Zone 46 (Lodge) and zone 45 (Main Street/Lamaha/GPHC) are now parked some semblance of order has emerged, although some operators still have complaints.
One route 45 driver noted that the buses are fitting comfortably in the allotted area but the major problem they are facing springs from other bus operators soliciting passengers outside of the parking area and those who continuously “bore” the line.
The driver said that if everyone works with the system then order will prevail and everyone would “make a dollar at the end of the day.”
As it stands now some operators are in the park for long periods without getting passengers.
At the other end of the square where the 41 buses are parked one driver said that sometimes he cannot get into the area because there is not enough space. “You got to circle around and pick up passengers that way,” the driver related.
This newspaper contacted Mayor Hamilton Green to find out whether any plans are being made for the UG and Industry operators. Green said that solutions are being looked at but detailed discussions on the matter will be done at the statutory meeting next Monday where he plans to invite a number of stakeholders.
The mayor said that the city would not be faced with all these problems if the ‘city plan’ that was approved by the Mayor and City Council and Cabinet three years ago was put into action. Instead, the mayor said, the plan has been overlooked and that has resulted in ‘anarchy.’
Meantime the UG/Industry operators said that they will not remove to the new bus park that was initially established for them at East Street between New Market and Middle streets. The operators are contending that passengers will not pay the extra fare to go all the way to East Street to get a bus, but will go to the areas they are accustomed to for years where operators for other routes will use the opportunity to make extra money, resulting in a loss for them (UG/Industry operators).
