The Public Works Ministry has launched a daily bus service to transport commuters in an out of Georgetown, free of charge during peak hours, although the move was met with skepticism by some travellers.
The announcement was made yesterday in the wake of a strike by Route 44 operators plying the route between the city and Mahaica, East Coast Demerara to press for higher fares.
At the Stabroek Market Square yesterday afternoon, Minister Robeson Benn told reporters and members of the public that the deployment of the fleet of large 44-seater buses was in response to concern over public transport operators forcing people to pay higher fares, full fares for short drops and withdrawing services. He noted that the initiative has been implemented a number of instances before to force operators to hold consultations.
“We do not want to allow a situation where consumers suffer by one-sided actions by some of the errant minibus operators,” Benn said. “The service will run as long as it has to… I am prepared to double the number of buses until this is resolved… We cannot countenance unilateral action… This is bullyism, not market forces,” he added.
Benn, however, could not provide the exact number of buses that have begun servicing the routes, the exact routes being plied and the cost to do so. The buses are plying various routes where there is a demand, according to Benn, including the East Bank, West Bank and West Coast Demerara at peak hours throughout the day and into the night up to when there is a demand.
The cost will be worked out after the fact, Benn said, while drawing the attention to the fact that the initiative is geared towards helping people. Members of the public raised concerns to Benn about the service being unrolled as a gimmick and chided him for wasting taxpayers’ money.
The fleet belongs to the Knight Rider bus service and owner Salim Twahir said that he was only charging the ministry for the operational costs of the buses, while saying he was giving back to the community.
Although the ministry, in a statement issued yesterday, said the service began on Saturday and that four 44-seater buses were working various routes, more were on the road. Benn stated his intentions to increase the number of buses up to 20, “If that is what it takes to get the bus operators to come to the consultation table.”
Three of the buses parked along the Stabroek Market Square during the period of 4.30 pm to 5.30 pm were empty for that hour, with commuters instead opting to use the minibuses instead. Commuters interviewed at the bus park said that they were not aware of the free service but would prefer to continue using the minibuses because they are faster.
Many commuters travelling between the city and the East Coast Demerara said that they were not aware of the bus service being offered. While younger persons opted not to use it, those older persons who became aware of the service welcomed the opportunity to save money on transportation, especially in the light of being overcharged at times.
Last week, Mahaica operators said they were dissatisfied with the current $200 fare and would be asking for at least 50% increase. “Victoria getting $200 and UG [Turkeyen] getting $100,” said one driver, as he pointed out the disparity in the distance—23 miles.
