Following a strike by some mini-bus operators yesterday, hundreds of stranded commuters were last evening taken to their destinations free of cost by the Ministry of Transport and Hydraulics.
Over a dozen 30-seater buses attached to the Ministry and from the Knight Riders bus service plied the ‘South’—41 and 46—routes after 6pm.
Yesterday morning, several Route 41 and 46 minibus operators ceased operations, citing the displacement of their parking area from the Stabroek Market bazaar as “unreasonable.” As a result, dozens of passengers were left standing along the roads in North and South Ruimveldt since more than 75% of the minibus operators which ply those routes pulled their services.
The striking operators parked their minibuses along the Square of the Revolution for most of yesterday and several told this newspaper that the authorities seemed not to have a plan for their operations. They said that on Saturday, officials from the Public Works Ministry barricaded a section of the area, blocking off access to the area where the minibuses exited the park.
But Minister of Transport and Hydraulics Robeson Benn told Stabroek News last night that it was temporary and necessary as the authorities moved to clean up the area.
Earlier, President of the United Minibus Union Eon Andrews had told Stabroek News that approximately 55 minibus operators who ply the two routes in question decided not to work, citing the “unreasonable” actions by the authorities to close the southern section of the area within the market bazaar where the buses would load and off-load passengers.
He said the union supported the operators’ stoppage of operations yesterday and according to him, since the grenade explosion in the area the authorities undertook several initiatives without prior notification to the minibus operators. He said at the moment only a small number of minibuses which ply the number 41 and 46 routes can “hold in the area with the present arrangement.” Andrews stated that there is ample space within the bazaar where the mobile police outpost can be positioned. He said the operators will continue to remain off the roads until such time that their concerns are addressed.
Benn told Stabroek News last evening that he received a letter from the Union late yesterday. He said that they informed that six routes were on strike particularly the 41 and 46 routes. He said that in the letter, the operators raised three issues. The operators asked for the “restoration” of the 41 and 46 parking area to them.
The minister pointed out, however, that it was only temporary. He pointed out that the area was being asphalted and parking lines were being painted. He said that he met with the operators. “I said this was not an issue and there are works in progress,” he said.
The second request from the minibus operators was to have the police outpost removed from the area. “We are not going to compromise on safety,” Benn said. He pointed out, however, that where it is sited now is temporary and it will be shifted as soon as the work on the permanent site, a few metres away, is completed. “We are not going back to the situation that (obtained) when the grenade exploded,” he said.
The final issue the operators raised was the restoration of the sanitary facilities. Benn pointed out that four portable toilets were in place last evening. He said that the previous facility was “indescribably unhygienic” and was filled with raw sewage. By today, lattice work will be put in place to afford more privacy, he said.
In the letter, the operators said that they were on strike for 48 hours and the minister told Stabroek News that the big buses will be on standby should the action continue. He noted however, that the operators will meet early today to decide if the strike continues.
Benn said that he had responded to all the issues raised at the meeting and had told the operators that if the strike continued, “I will bring in buses and carry the people home.” He said that when he arrived at the bus park at 6:20pm, there was a mass of people awaiting transportation. Two 50-seater buses and twelve 30-seater buses were pressed into operation and after 9pm last evening had made at least two trips each, the minister said.
He said that while some operators have said that they are back at work, there are some who want to agitate the situation. “We can’t support any disruption…”, the minister said, adding that he was willing to discuss any issues that the operators might have. He said that many of the passengers were “extremely pleased” with the arrangements.
Meanwhile, earlier yesterday one of the striking operators told this newspaper that during the day on Saturday his minibus was taken to the Brickdam Police Station by traffic officers and he subsequently had to pay a fine of $10,000 to have the vehicle released. He recounted that soon after a mobile police outpost was placed at the centre of the bazaar, the area within the park where the route 41 and 46 buses would “line up” was barricaded.
He said he along with other operators had no choice but to pick-up passengers on the outskirts of the bazaar and according to him while it was “illegal” to pick up passengers there, minibus drivers were left with limited options.
Another operator at the route 45 park stated that the police have not said anything to the bus drivers regarding where was legal or illegal to load and off-load passengers.
Meantime, another concern expressed by the bus drivers is the raised price of gasoline, which now stands at approximately $1,000 per gallon. The operators of the route 41 minibuses stated yesterday that they wish to have the minibus fare for that route increased from $80 to $100 for the journey and from $60 to $80 for short drops. However, Andrews noted that while that issue was “of importance” the union is looking to have the “parking issue” resolved soon.
