Guyana is in dire need of a Rosa Parks; someone to stand up and say no. We need more people with backbones; more people with stamina. I speak specifically on the discomfort of travelling in public transportation and how the majority of people let minibus operators abuse their rights. For this, Guyana needs a Rosa Parks.
It starts with the harassment: the pushing and tugging, the grabbing and uncomfortably close contact. Just to travel in a bus?! It is a well-known fact that some of these men would urinate with no water to wash their hands and then they touch you, grab you! They pull at your bags, clothing and limbs. They curse you for not walking with them and put you on some black list. They will probably pass you if you flag them down on the road.
They call you names that can sometimes be offensive: “Fat Gyal!” – We don’t know if that woman feels self-conscious about her weight, but by all means call her out so in public. What ever happened to Mr or Ms? I can’t call my boss, “Big man” or “Big woman” so why would you call a paying customer, “Rasta man”, “Dougla”, “Red man”, “Coolie Gyal”, “Tall man” or Fine Gurl”?
Then there is the seating. My Lord this is horrific! As a customer everyone has the right to choose his or her own seat and change if s/he is uncomfortable. So when someone sits down, who are you to tell that person, “Go over there?” And for what? To pack us up for more small change? That’s really low. Passengers quiver in disagreement and pain but say nothing.
As for the music? Loud, offensive, obnoxious even and yet people just sit there. Few would ask the driver to turn it down and then, he either barely touches the dial or he argues. Now this is distracting him from his job, but he behaves like he’s doing you a favour.
The speed is the worst factor. There is no network of roads in this country that is unpatched. Every single road and highway has some hole and some patch on it, some bump and some dead animal or rubbish lying around and these drivers do not even acknowledge that! In other places you can get in a car and drive just using a map or GPS but in this country you have to know the road. Trash!
Now you tell me if these drivers know the barriers and dangers of these roadways why would they still want to speed: To get a lot of money at the end of the day? To impress other drivers? The adrenaline from the already loud music, perhaps? It is said that most buses don’t even belong to the drivers, so like most people nowadays: They know the cost for everything but the value of nothing. If they do get into an accident it is not theirs to repair or worry about. Loss of lives? I’m sure they will sleep well at night.
For the sudden stops and sharp swerves they say nothing, they don’t apologise just laugh and go about their way. Passengers at the back are mortally terrified; they can’t wait to step off the bus – and that’s another thing! What is wrong with Guyanese and walking! Why must everyone get dropped to a specific spot? In other places you get dropped at the closest bus stop and you walk from there. I can understand making exceptions for the elderly and pregnant women but must every man jack stop at every corner? Guyana does not have the roads for that and that’s the reason why some drivers do the swerves and sudden stops, that is why other drivers behind them hate buses! No etiquette on the roadway.
And the audacity some conductors have in them to curse back when someone requests comfort in their ride, to stop the bus and put out a passenger or even harass paying customers. I believe that is why many people shut their mouths; they are afraid.
Not every driver and conductor are like the above descriptions, but these are the general perceptions in Guyana when you think of public transportation. One bad egg spoils the batch. And what of the Guyana Minibus Association? What is it doing to change the attitudes of those it represents?
With all that being said it makes one wonder how a Code of Ethics was drawn up for taxis and completely bypassed minibuses. Because I am not a tourist it means I don’t have the same rights to decent travel? Because I cannot afford a taxi it means I must suffer the agony of travelling in a minibus?
You see why Guyana needs a Rosa Parks?