Amid suggestions that state-run buses could help to fill a transportation gap here, Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill says there are no such discussions occurring in government.
Edghill when contacted by Stabroek News for a comment, noted that due to the private ownership of minibus and water taxi operations there has been no discussion on whether the government would have any input in public transportation.
“That is the current public transportation policy, the private sector operates the water taxis, the minibuses, they regulate to ensure compliance with transportation standards, so in terms of the government buying buses and owning buses or operating routes, there has been no discussions on that at any particular time since it is private sector driven”, he said.
Back in August 2013, then Public Works Minister Robeson Benn had indicated that his administration would finally embrace the concept of government-run public transportation but nothing ever developed.
Benn, upon a visit to Region Three for an outreach had said that his administration had been looking at the traffic situation and the issues of persons being stranded on roadways en route to work and during the evenings on their way home.
He had remarked that the administration was looking to bring in some big buses as part of a pilot programme that might eventually see a rollout of a countrywide system. Also, in 2012 Benn said that buses were under “active consideration”.
Benn now holds the portfolio of Minister of Home Affairs. Stabroek News was unable to contact him for his views on the matter.
Currently, Guyana’s public transportation sector comprises privately owned and operated minibuses that operate in allocated zones or routes nationwide.
However, minibuses have developed a negative reputation in the wake of low levels of consumer confidence and lack of proper regulation. Several citizens have repeatedly raised concerns over the undisciplined minibus culture, namely speeding, vulgar and loud music, overcharging of passengers, smoking and disturbances or unscrupulous approaches by minibus touts.
Minibus drivers have been observed by concerned citizens racing to catch up to their colleagues because they do not want the bus in front of them to pick up all the passengers.
This has even worsened to the extent of minibus drivers engaging in brawls and physical altercations in relation to which bus has a higher passenger capacity. Several bus drivers are known for hurriedly picking up passengers, and racing off to catch up and overtake their colleagues.
Back in 2019, Stabroek News had reported that a code of conduct containing guidelines for minibus operators offering public transportation services was officially launched at the Stabroek Market Square by the Ministry of Business under the David Granger-led administration.
The objective of the long-awaited code was to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of public transportation in Guyana, and to make the public transport system accessible to all commuters on a non-discriminatory basis.
The code emphasised that the transportation services are a critical sector of the economy and, therefore, it should be operated in a professional manner.
The code was signed by Muriel Tinnis, then Director of the Consumer Affairs Department within the ministry; President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews; Deputy Chairman of the Guyana National Road Safety Council, Earl Lambert; and then Traffic Chief Linden Isles in the presence of then Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.
With the signing of this code, minibus operators were expected to abide by the guidelines which prohibited loud and offensive music, offensive language, discrimination against the elderly, persons with disabilities, and non-nationals. It also mandated the proper display of the fare structure in minibuses.
Operators were required to wear uniforms, along with an identification badge or card. It was explained that operators of the different routes would be attired in a uniform associated with their routes.
