Hire car operators plying the New Amsterdam/Corriverton route on Friday temporarily parked their cars in protest over the increase in the price for gas, while demanding that short drop (five miles) fares be increased.
The drivers parked their cars at Port Mourant, Berbice, from about 10:00h and stayed until midday before resuming duty.
The drivers are seeking to have fares increased by up to 40 per cent to compensate for the recent hike in the price of gas which has increased by 15 per cent.
Fuel prices at the pumps in Berbice moved from $198 per liter at the start of the year to $231 per liter. However, the drivers are demanding that short drop fares
The Corentyne hire car operators outside the office of the Prime Minister at Port Mourant, Berbice on Friday
move from $100 to $120 of $140.
Two weeks ago, it was $940 per gallon of gas at some Guyoil stations in Berbice; now it is $1040. At the start of last month, most hire car operators were using $7500 to fill their car tank, now it will cost them over $8000.
Drivers on Friday argued that at the current price for fuel, they can only stay in business if they increase fares.
The operators are nevertheless demanding that commuters be made to pay the proposed increases. They called for the increase to be implemented immediately.
At Port Mourant, scores of operators on Friday parked their cars and went to the Office of the Prime Minister, however, no one was at the office.
Thakur McLeen, a father of five, who operates his car says since the increase in fuel cost, he has only been taking home under $1500 daily.
“$100 for a short drop will not work because the gas price going up every day; it will not work out plus we have to get new tires, oil and filter.”
While the drivers argue that spare parts have also been increasing since the fare was set at $100 for a short drop, it should be noted that the price for all of the other expenses was factored into the price when the fare was set.
Meanwhile, Subhas Singh, a hire car driver for eight years, said the increase in competition is also another reason for proposed increases to be implemented. He claimed the following the recent increase in fuel prices, he has been taking home less than $1000 at the end of the day.
He explained that there are more hire cars on the road today as against when he started operating.
Many of the drivers who ply the New Amsterdam/Corriverton and New Amsterdam/Rose Hall route are contending that with current prices for gasoline at the pump, the hire car business cannot sustain them and their family. Many of them have to pay a rental for the vehicles while a large number of the operators have loads on the vehicle. They say they are operating at a loss.
The operators are seeking to stage another demonstration on Monday and hope to get the support of a larger number hire car operators and owners who are non-operators. (Andrew Carmichael)
