Business Ministry to decide on fare increase after analysing operational costs

In an exclusive interview with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin on Friday, it was related that the Ministry of Business is analysing the cost involved in the operation of minibuses before responding to a proposed hike in fares made by the United Minibus Union (UMU).

The Minister said, “I know we are working on an analysis of the cost associated with operating minibuses, so that we can determine for ourselves whether the request for a fare increase is justified, and what that fare increase should be, if it is needed”.
Speaking specifically about a five-year moratorium on the importation of minibuses suggested by the UMU, Gaskin said he believes there ought to be more statistical information relative to passenger volume in order to facilitate a decision that would actually benefit the sector.
“If something like that is going to be done, it needs to be structured a little differently. Rather than a moratorium on the importation of buses, (there should) be some sort of limit on the amount of licences being issued, because you can’t condemn people to the same old bus for five years. And that (moratorium) doesn’t make sense, so it has to be dealt with. There needs to be solid data on passenger needs, passenger volume on the different routes, to really determine whether that is something that is going to work to the benefit or the detriment of the industry, and of the passengers also,” Gaskin explained.
A proposal for not only a fare increase, but several other requests, was presented to Minister Gaskin back in June by head of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews, with the hope of addressing the several issues plaguing the sector.
The two parties have since met, and are expected to decide on a way forward by the end of July, according to the Minister, who said he has ‘given his word’.
The fare increase came at a time when the prices for fuel were fluctuating and increasing significantly. The head of the UMU had, however, informed that the fare increases suggested by him was not solely because of the fuel price increase, but because of a number of other issues, which include the hike in maintenance costs for minibuses.
As a result of this, the UMU head had made it clear that the proposed fare increase of as much as $40 would not change even if the cost for fuel decreases.

According to Andrews, it is not the UMU’s vision to exploit commuters, but rather to set fares which are “fair to everyone”.

He said he is aware of cases wherein passengers are being made to pay transportation fares that have been increased by as much as $60, when all that the UMU has requested is a $20 increase for short drop drivers, and $40 increase for drivers who travel longer distances.

“We are concerned, because if they (minibus drivers) take action, it means that especially the travelling public, although it is free-man transportation, they will punish. There may be persons who may react to those increases, and you know there might be some violence and Police story and these kinds of things. So I don’t think that’s the way anybody wants us to go, so I think that the Government ought to do something quickly,” the UMU president posited.