Do not pay higher fares – ministry

The Ministry of Finance is advising minibus commuters not to pay additional fares pending its meeting with the Guyana Minibus Association on the issue shortly.

The Ministry in a statement last night said  it is also in the process of studying proposals on possible  additional intervention to reduce the burden of the increased fares on commuters of minibuses.

The Ministry also said it is cognizant of the cost of inputs into the industry including fuel and that measures have already been put in place to ease the burden on domestic consumers.

It pointed out too that Government has over time made specific interventions to reduce  the  impact of rising fuel prices by zero-rating the excise tax on diesel from 25 percent and reducing the excise tax on gasoline from 50 percent to seven percent.

Two minibus groups this week implemented higher fares on a large number of routes.