Minibus drivers’ code of conduct to be implemented by November

President of the United Minibus Union (UMU), Eon Andrews, is proceeding in discussions with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin to have a code of conduct for bus drivers implemented before the end of November.
This was on Monday related by Andrews during an interview in which he reiterated the importance of having a standard behavioral pattern set for those operators, since the system is currently “out of control”.
He informed that UMU members would be meeting during the week to sort out this matter, along with other pressing issues. “I expect that the code of conduct should be implemented before the end of November, or sometime before November, because this thing is really necessary,” he stated.
According to him, a few of the things the code of conduct would seek to address are: the “mode of dress; general conduct, such as not overloading buses; the loud (and) lewd music; driving under the influence of alcohol; the way they speak to their passengers, and that kind of stuff.”
He said that as soon as the Business Ministry, in partnership with the Union, drafts the code of conduct, representatives of the various minibus routes would be summoned to meet with the Business Ministry and the UMU. Drivers of the various routes would later be engaged by the Business Ministry and the UMU.
He explained, “We will have to let the Government do a release endorsed by us (the UMU), because I don’t think the bus drivers will have a choice. It’s about time that they up their game. They have to up the quality of their services being offered for what (they require) people (to) pay (them)”.
Andrews had, in a previous interview, said the code of conduct was extremely vital, especially with the booming oil and gas sector expected to come on stream by 2020. He explained that the sector would reel in tourists and other important persons, who will at some time be made to use public transportation, whose operators are presently unprepared to be the ambassadors they ought to be.
The UMU had initially announced plans to establish a code of conduct for bus drivers back in August, when plans were revealed to increase minibus fares by $20 for 10 operating routes.
The announcement to set a standard behavioural pattern for public transportation operators was well received by passengers, as far too many commuters would have vented their anger on social media at the ruthless behaviour of drivers in the different routes.
Although some passengers have welcomed the initiative, others have been more concerned about the drivers living up to what is expected of them. In relation to this concern, Andrews has assured that a hotline would be implemented to facilitate passengers making reports of breaches made by transportation providers in this regard.