It was recently reported in the media that efforts are being made to establish a Code of Conduct for minibus operators. President of the United Minibus Union (UMU) Eon Andrews had started the process and was expected to have a meeting with officials of the Business Ministry to finalise the document. It is expected that once the code is drafted, the Business Ministry in partnership with the Union, would begin to engage representatives of the various minibus routes with the aim of getting all stakeholders on board to adhere to the code.
Some issues which the Code of Conduct seeks to address include the mode of dress, general conduct of drivers and conductors, overloading, loud and lewd music, driving under the influence of alcohol, the manner in which drivers and conductors speak to passengers and so on.
Many are of the opinion that at present, the standards in relation to public transportation here are very poor and there is urgent need to raise those standards in keeping with what obtains in other countries. Hence, the action being taken by the authorities to bring an end to the present level of lawlessness is a step in the right direction, as it will compel operators to offer a more professional and well-run service to its customers; especially if they want to remain in business.
With the booming oil and gas sector expected to come fully on stream by 2020 many more persons would come to Guyana, both to visit and work, and will certainly, at some point in time, depend on the public transport system. The transport sector is very crucial and cannot be left behind; stakeholders must therefore do what is necessary to ensure that the service provided is exceptional and could compare favourably with what obtains abroad.
It is well known that Guyana has recorded very high road fatality rates over the years. The reasons for this are well known and reside partly in the minibus culture; and the way drivers and conductors are paid. Minibus drivers and conductors are expected to meet a quota for the owner, and they can keep takings over and above that. So there is a mad rush to pick up as many passengers as possible since both the driver and conductor aim to make as much money in the shortest possible time.
Also, it could be recalled that in 2008, a law was passed in Parliament in relation to loud music in buses and hire cars. Initially, this law was strongly enforced, with Police taking firm action against those found to be in breach. However, at present, many public transport operators, especially minibuses, are still blasting their music and the Police seem to be turning a blind eye to this lawlessness.
What is even more dangerous is that some of these drivers and conductors could be seen openly consuming alcohol while transporting passengers to their various destinations. While some passengers may speak out against such actions, others are afraid that they will be attacked.
It is also widely believed that some drivers, including those for hire and private cars, have ‘bought’ their licences, and have never taken a driving test or been exposed to formal Police instruction on the Highway Code. This therefore contributes to the high level of lawlessness on the roads, and hence, the high level of fatalities.
That said, as we had stated before, while there are various factors which impact on road safety, there is little doubt that the single most important in a general sense is enforcement of the traffic laws. The Government has enacted the relevant legislation in relation to driving under the influence, loud music in vehicles, overloading, speeding, etc, but if the laws are not adequately implemented, they become useless.
For too long, the Guyanese public has accepted mediocre public transport services. Now that a Code of Conduct will be implemented for minibus operators, it is hoped that everyone in the sector will seriously work towards ensuring higher professional standards are established and maintained. After all, the intention of the code is meant to be of benefit to both passengers and operators.
