Dear Editor,
About a month ago, minibus drivers blocked the road near the Abary Bridge after they believed that they were disenfranchised by the police in relation to new restrictions and regulations that they would have to comply with. This is not the first time that these things have happened, nor will they be the last.
I am also dissatisfied when I see long lines of schoolchildren standing in the hot sun every morning and after dismissal time, waiting for public transportation. Cars and buses are very picky before allowing schoolchildren to travel. This is actually why students arrive late at school and at home, too, in the afternoons. I believe it is an insult to our children for car and bus drivers to refuse to pick up schoolchildren. It goes to show the greed for money, and the get-rich-quick mentality.
It is my humble view that our transportation system in Guyana is in a disorderly state, and that’s putting it quite mildly. Just imagine, in a small country like this, with a relatively simple and small road network, we still have problems with minibuses, zoning, fares and such. The United States has one of the largest road networks and transportation systems in the world. There are numerous highways, bridges, tunnels, overpasses and interstate roads. The public transportation system there is made up of trains and large buses. Taxis, too, ply the shorter routes. But I might be a little unreasonable comparing us with the USA.
Let’s take Trinidad, our Caribbean neighbour, for example. She has very large network of roads, overpasses, large bridges, etc. Trinidad’s public transportation system functions largely with large buses and maxi taxis. This system works fairy well.
In Guyana we have a small network of roads, mainly on the coastal belt. We have cars and minibuses making up our public transportation choices. The hire cars are few in comparison with the minibuses. The minibuses often speed on the roads and have been involved in their share of accidents in times past; cars are no exception. We don’t really see big buses in accidents; at least I have not seen or heard of such in quite a while. I find the minibus to be a very uncomfortable and distasteful choice of travel, but there is little choice.
Recently, in Berbice, new restrictions were laid out by the traffic officials, and minibuses now have specific locations within New Amsterdam where they can drop off and pick up passengers. This has caused quite an outcry from both passengers and minibus drivers alike. I myself cannot really understand what’s happening since the new regulations took effect earlier this month.
That is why I say that our transportation system is in disarray. The police are making regulations without proper consideration for and consultation with both members of the travelling public and the minibus owners/drivers.
What the government should do, and what I believe would solve this problem, would be to bring in the large buses to ply the various coastal routes. Not only would accidents be reduced significantly, but passengers would once again be treated with dignity and respect and travel in a relaxing atmosphere in comfort. There would not be loud, lewd and throbbing music; there would not be ‘doubling up’ and ‘tripling up.’ Fares would go down! If proper planning is done from the level of the higher authorities, I think we can revamp the public transportation system to serve the public and their travelling needs. If we introduce bus stops and bus stations – which is going to cost some money – there would be some sort of stability in this sector once and for all. That is the transportation system I envisage, minus the minibuses.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran