Minibus Union calls for stricter fines against drivers, conductors
As the Guyana Police Force continues to battle with the reckless behaviour of minibus drivers and conductors on the roadways, the United Minibus Union is advocating for stricter penalties for those operators who break the laws.
The President of the Minibus Union, Eon Andrews on Friday reiterated the Union’s condemnation of the reckless behaviour by drivers and conductors, noting that there must be stricter penalties to curb this.
According to Andrews, only recently the Union was involved in a training exercise for drivers on how to operate when delivering a service to the public. But despite this, he said they are still faced with widespread misconduct.
“Even though some persons have been trained, they violate and they hope they are not caught and we have said to the Police if you see our persons are violating, lock them up. I have no option about that. Lock up these people. The penalties should be more severe.”
“It should be more severe because they are going to pay a fine and they come back a couple of minutes smiling in the park. It must be more punitive,” he said.
Andrews further called on the Home Affairs Minister to work towards achieving such a mandate.
Andrews said even though the Union can educate their drivers, the Police Force has the power to enforce the rules.
“We can advise, we can do certain things… I’ve said it before where you have some young policemen who see people breaking the law and they turn their faces. They may go into the park and lock up somebody who is in the line, and you got a hot plater out there, and when certain buses come in, they disappear until they pass.”
“Some people even get locked up, and within a couple of minutes, they come back. Something is definitely wrong,” he explained.
The Union’s President said in these cases commuters are afraid to report such incidents, knowing the relationships the Police have with some civilians.
“There are people who are afraid to go and talk because they could be identified as snitches and I’ve known many times where persons would go and report something to the Police, and a couple of minutes after a man would come and say that me people tell me it’s you,” Andrews stated.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn, who was present at the event, said he is in full support of the increase in fines and will be working with the Police on such issues.
“That’s a discussion at the policy level that they would have to engage in and to arrive at a position, but personally I am supportive of an increase in fine”, the Minister said.
Two months ago, the Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) announced its intention to conduct countrywide exercises aimed at clamping down on untidy minibus drivers and conductors.
According to Divisional Traffic Officer of Division 4A – (Georgetown), Deputy Superintendent Timothy Williams, the minibus culture in Guyana poses many challenges for the Police Force, and it is time that this matter is dealt with aggressively.
He further noted that once minibus drivers and conductors are caught in untidy attire, or behaving recklessly, they can be charged.