Transport Minister Robeson Benn has deployed big buses to service commuters free of charge, in a bid to contain hikes by private minibus operators.
Benn initiated the service on Thursday, after Route 42 (Georgetown-Timehri) minibuses implemented a new fare structure—charging commuters $20 more across the board for stops along the East Bank of Demerara, like some other routes. The service was yesterday extended to all routes where private operators have increased fares.
Private minibus operators plying East Bank route described the Minister’s action as unfair and heartless yesterday, as they believed only their route would have been affected. “He want intimidate us,” a frustrated operator stated.
However, last evening Benn went out and initiated the new system for all routes where fares have been raised. Benn said he refused to have commuters taken advantage of and as a result the big buses were deployed to transport passengers free of charge. The vehicles are expected to work at peak hours only, being in the mornings from 7 to 9am and in the evenings from 5 to 7pm.
When asked how long the big buses would operate on the parks, Minister Benn said that “a meeting will be held tomorrow (today) morning at 10am, with representatives from each union.”
Persaud, a bus operator, stated that since the government is so concerned about the citizens of Guyana, then they should also distribute free groceries until those prices are dropped also. “Why they don’t share free school clothes and boots for the people send they children to school too? Is nah we prices alone raise!” the man exclaimed.
“Every other commodity raise except bus fare… we mustn’t raise,” another concerned operator said, while agreeing with his colleague. “They don’t want to give public servants a raise in pay,” the man said. “If we raise public servants have to get a raise too.”
While it was also rumoured that the big buses provided by the Ministry charged commuters a fare of $100 to travel to Grove, on the East Bank, Minister said the claim was completely false.
