Two months ago, minibus operators and owners across the country engaged in various forms of protest as they lobbied the current A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change Coalition Government to implement a series of relief measures that would result in the current unconscionable fuel prices being reduced.
They have been arguing consistently that they are unable to bear the added burden they are facing as result of what they are describing as a “sharp” and “steep” increase in the prices for diesel and gasoline at the gas stations across the country.
Others are also arguing that the maintenance costs associated with plying their trade are also steadily increasing as a result of the fuel prices and other rises in international commodity prices, which have negatively impacted their ability to access high-quality second hand spare parts and vehicle fittings.
Some of the drivers have also resorted to begging the Government to consider that they are finding it difficult to feed their families and honour their bills at the same time, even though they operate what are being considered largely private vehicles in order to provide what is essentially a public service.
When there were initial signs that the Government was indifferent to their concerns and was not inclined to take them seriously following some statements made by senior representatives of the Administration, the minibus operators resorted to burning old tyres, blocking main access roads, and parking their vehicles during rush-hour period in a desperate bid to send the signal to the Government that they mean business.
As expected, when the minibus operators and their respective unions issued an ultimatum threatening to increase the minibus fares by as much as $20 and $40 for a short drop, and higher amounts for a complete drop to a destination, the Government’s posture changed. It was now ready to meet and engage with the irate and frustrated minibus operators.
That meeting saw the General Minibus Union (GMU) engaging the Business and Tourism Minister Dominic Gaskin, where a formal proposal of the demands being made by the operators was discussed and justified in the presence of key Government officials in order to return the industry’s operations to normalcy.
The Government has allegedly agreed to consider aspects of the proposals made by the minibus unions in order to bring an end to the ongoing protest actions by the operators.
Surely, the Government was also being lobbied by several other critical stakeholders, who were also adversely affected by the spike in the price for fuel and oil on the international markets. The Private Sector Commission, several local Chambers of Commerce groups, organised labour, and even key manufacturing businesses pressed the Government to do something, say something, or even change some aspect of its fiscal or taxation policy to deliver some form of relief to these stakeholders, so that the economy could continue to thrive, and business strengthened against these external shocks.
This is against this backdrop alone that it is disappointing that the Government has not seen it fit to demonstrate more care, sensitivity and prudence in its approach to tackling the matter. Despite being lobbied by all those stakeholders, there is still a high level of indifference being demonstrated by the ministries of the Presidency, Business and Tourism Development, Public Infrastructure and other key departments.
And the comment attributed to Business Minister Gaskin does not help in arriving at a speedy solution to the woes faced by stakeholders, but only exuberates the fact that the Government does not see as important addres,sing what is essentially a “bread and butter” issue for many. He had recently told reporters that he was not responsible for fixing minibus fares, and just intervened from a consumer point of view, to find out their concerns. He went on to say that the proposal which was submitted to his ministry will be shared with the respective ministers, who will then carry the burden of introducing the said proposal to Cabinet.
Perhaps Minister Gaskin should have not agreed to meeting the operators and stakeholders alone. Maybe it would have been more productive if the other Ministers he had spoken about were present and a final decision was agreed to at the end of each engagement.
The Opposition has already shared the formula for averting the crisis that looms ahead. The Government must bring an end to its non-action by significantly waiving the fuel taxes and setting a clear policy on what should be done whenever to protect local industries from the shocks created by these international economic developments.
