Businesses are becoming more responsive to the initiative to erect bus sheds in the city, according to Kwame Mentore, Director of Pyramid Sheds.
Last year, Mentore had hoped to add 50 bus sheds and bins to the city before Guyana’s 50th independence anniversary but businesses did not respond favourably.
However, Mentore recently told Stabroek News that businesses are now responding to his proposal and are indicating their willingness to get on board with the project. He stated that due to budget restrictions, many businesses were not able to make an immediate decision.
He said when companies sign on to the project, they are not only getting advertisements but also maintenance. He explained that on a daily basis they visit the shed and make assessments to ensure there is limited or no vandalism.
Currently, there are approximately five bus sheds across the city and more are expected to be added at a later date. The sheds, branded for Quik Access and Green Acres, are located on Croal Street, while two others under the brands of Xtra Energy Drink and Assuria Insurance are located on Regent Street and one under the brand of Farfan and Mendes is located on North Road.
Mentore had previously said that his company was offering corporate clients the option to brand the shed’s seven 5ft x 3ft panels at an approximate cost of $80,000 a month.
“The base is concrete and the structure steel with polycarbonate walls and corrugated roofing material,” Mentore explained, while noting that there are also bins adjacent to each shed as a means of curbing the littering, which continues to affect the city.
He continued to call on corporate Guyana to be a part of the initiative.
Mentore added that the company is also seeking the opportunity to erect sheds beyond the city.
Commuters have been pleased with the initiative to erect the sheds in the city. “This is great. This sun is hot and after walking in the stores you are exhausted so sitting here waiting for a bus is comfortable and relaxing,” Deslyn Frank, who was sitting at the shed in front of the City Mall on Regent Street, said.
Another commuter, who asked not to be named, was also pleased with the initiative.
The woman, who was sitting at the North Road bus shed, explained that the area is very popular for persons waiting on transportation to get to the East Coast. She said that the sheds provide much needed shelter on rainy days. She added, however, that another shed should be added since the one bus shed can only accommodate a few persons. She also stated that she is happy that the developer thought of placing a garbage bin next to the bus shed to ensure a litter-free environment.
Meanwhile, a second developer, businessman Brian Yong, owner of Quark Communications Inc, had been working with the city to erect 100 bus sheds but the venture has not materialised. Numerous efforts made by Stabroek News to contact Yong to find out the status of his project were, however, fruitless. Two of his company’s stylish bus sheds were erected on Main Street.
