It was amusing to read the President of Guyana using some very strong words to describe the parliamentary opposition in his address to the nation on Friday night, and I wondered why he didn’t use that vocabulary to describe the minibus operators who rob barefacedly every day.
For as long as I can remember, the minibus operators have been increasing their fares, and this government only condemns this act while the increase stays there and nothing gets done about it.
Over a number of years letters have been published and stories have been written about it, but
this government never tries to remedy the situation. Only recently I wrote about the $300 commuters have to pay if they want to travel to the West Coast Demerara from Georgetown, and unfortunately, this figure has risen to $500 when there is a crowd at the park. One has to wonder what they are going to charge now that the Demerara Harbour Bridge will only be allowing single-lane traffic.
For too long these operators have been fleecing commuters of their hard-earned cash even though they have to travel in uncomfortable conditions. Before you enter the bus, the conductor or the driver will be at the door which is closed and he will tell you the fare. You have to agree to pay it before they open the door for you to enter. After witnessing this regularly, I ventured into the Police Outpost at Stabroek one night and had to wake a policeman on duty to make a report about a minibus. He bluntly told me that there is nothing they could do and should I really need to make a report, I should go to the Brickdam Police Station at 8am next day.
Every night at the park you can witness commuters expressing their frustration about what they are facing after work when they are hoping to get home early. The operators are so heartless, that babies and children can be seen late at the park with their parents/guardians, all because of the high fares they are charging.
From all indications, the President might be calling elections soon and I am wondering if he is hoping to see his party win when a majority of the working class is travelling by public transportation which is robbing them, and although they have the authority they are doing nothing.
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
