Dear Editor,
I would like to draw to your attention the behaviour of some of the conductors on the minibuses. First I would like to congratulate some of the conductors who are doing a fine job; but there are others who are downright disrespectful and unmannerly to commuters especially those with disability.
I would like to bring to your attention an incident which I experienced on Monday 20th February, 2012 on the East Bank Park at around 5.30 p.m. (I am blind). My companion (who is also disabled) and I went to the park. All of the buses were only going to the Stadium and we were going to New Diamond Housing Scheme. There were many commuters on the park waiting for the buses; there was intermittent rainfall. It was not until 8.00 p.m. that a friend gifted us some money ($2,500) to take a taxi home or else we would have been stranded in Georgetown for God knows how long.
There was another incident which occurred on Friday 9th March at approximately 9.00 a.m. on the Diamond Bus Park. Whilst I was awaiting transportation a bus was at the park and passengers were boarding the bus. The conductor however prevented me from boarding the bus by blocking the door and telling me bluntly that I was not allowed to travel on that bus. He put his hand on me and almost pushed me to the ground in order to emphasize his point.
The Disability Act is only paper legislation. It is not working for us because nobody cares. Something practical needs to be done by the government for the voiceless disabled.
I do hope that this cry does not fall on deaf, indifferent or uncaring ears as all of the others have.
Please provide us with easily accessible transportation as is our right.
Yours faithfully,
Laurie Greenidge