As the stalemate continues between the government and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) on the reduction of the bridge toll, the administration is considering increasing the number of river taxis plying the route across the Berbice River from Rosig-nol to New Amsterdam.
There are presently two river taxis working.
In a comment at the launch of the commemorative stamp for the 50th anniversary of the Bank of Guyana on Wednesday, Junior Public Infrastruc-ture Minister Annette Ferguson disclosed that there is a “great increase in the number of commuters using the river taxis” and the increase in the number of taxis is engaging the attention of the Cabinet.
While there has been an overwhelming response to government-subsidised river taxis, minibus operators have said they are losing business.
Ferguson met with the Number 56 Minibus Association for discussions on a way forward that would benefit both commuters and the bus operators.
She told Stabroek News that a suggestion was made to the association to extend road service licences for buses, thereby extending the area for their operations. However, this proposal did not sit well with the bus operators, who rejected in totality.
A counter proposal was made to implement the previous system used when the pontoon was in operation, which would see the river taxis working between the hours of 6am and 9am, and 2:30 pm and 5pm. The drivers said this system caters better for school children and the elderly and accommodates them better as well.
Ferguson will be reviewing the proposal.
The 2015 budget allocated $36 million for a bridge subsidy from September to the end of the year. The government had stated that it would provide a subsidy to lower the $2,200 toll for buses and cars to $1,900, while other vehicle types would have reductions of 10%.
However, BBCI has said that given the current structure of the Toll Formula, without much needed toll increases, the cash shortfall this year is estimated at $600 million. It has since written its preferential shareholder, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), and requested its views on whether to accept the recent government’s proposed subsidy to reduce the bridge tolls.
