Dear Editor,
I wish to bring to the attention of Minister of Transport Robeson Benn, and Minister of Tourism Irfaan Ali that minibus operators are charging passengers high fares at night.
As soon as night steps in Route 44 operators on the East Coast Demerara are charging two hundred dollars for passage from Georgetown to Victoria. If you are going to Plaisance, Beteverwagting or Buxton you have to pay the same two hundred dollar fare. This is unfair and exploitative.
On the East Bank Demerara the situation is the same. At night passengers have to pay one hundred and sixty dollars whether they are going to Providence, Herstelling or Little Diamond.
The Ministers of Transport and Tourism seem to being doing nothing about this situation. They have been hearing numerous complaints from the travelling public, yet they do nothing, although they keep saying they will investigate the complaints. The Tourism Minister has said that the minibus operators cannot change high fares since they have an agreement with the ministry, and that once the gasoline price does not go over one thousand dollars, the bus operators cannot increase their fares. But no minibus operator will be listening to any minister when no action is being taken.
The Police Traffic department is not doing anything either about the excessive fares. Right in front of the traffic police touts are shouting out the high fares while the police turn a deaf ear.
The government has to do something about this exploitation. It is affecting the workers and schoolchildren who have to use the minibuses. We need action, not statements.
Yours faithfully,
Baldeo Persaud
