Passengers refusing to pay increased fares – minibus operations

Just one week after the $20 across the board fare increase took effect, minibus operators are complaining that passengers are refusing to pay the new price.
Speaking with Guyana Times on Saturday, several minibus operators complained of the uphill battle they are encountering everyday as commuters are refusing to pay the increased fares.
A female conductor on the West Coast of Demerara complained bitterly that although the new fare structure is displayed in her minibus, passengers are paying the previous fare. “Them giving you they own thing and if you ask for the $20 more is a problem. Them wan go report yuh fuh harassment and all kinda thing them ah do,” the woman related.
Another driver, Justus (only name given) who operates in the Route 32 (Georgetown to Parika) zone told Guyana Times, “Some passengers refuse to give us the increase which is clearly demonstrated. Most of us on the park have the fare structure and yet they choosing to give us what they feel like.”
He said if passengers tell him they are short of a $20, he would try to understand their situation, but on too many occasions, passengers are refusing to pay.
A conductor, Mathew (only name given), who works on the Route 42 (Georgetown to Grove) bus park said, “Some passengers would not pay the fare, while some would. If you just tell them de fare raise, they busing you. Is a good while now this thing deh out. Everybody should know what the fare gone to by now, so I don’t think is a situation where they don’t know is wah goin on”.
One short drop car operator chimed in and said that the situation is the same over in the Ramp Road car park. The 56-year-old driver told this publication, “Is everybody tryin to make a living. The fare just raise by $20 and they don’t want to give us that. They complaining like we don’t have bills and things to do to”.
“Some of us put up a thing in our car saying the short drop fare is $80. You know that people is still be foldin up $60 and giving we. What happen man, we don’t have to eat too?”
Head of the United Minibus Union (UMU), Eon Andrews when contacted on Saturday said he was unaware of what has been happening since the drivers have not officially lodged a complaint.
In relation to passengers refusing to pay the fare he noted, “I haven’t heard anything of that nature, but I have no doubt that that might be so.”
Government in August announced its plans to hike the minibus fares in 10 different zones.
The President of the Union told this newspaper he is satisfied with the Ministry’s decision to implement a $20 increase. He said, “It might not be a lot, but we are satisfied.”
In June, the President of the Minibus Union submitted a proposal for not only a fare increase, but for several other requests to ease the pressure on minibus drivers.
Although the call for a fare increase came at a time where fuel prices were constantly escalating, Andrews had noted that the call for the additional money was not only due to the fuel prices, but several other issues. Because of this, the Union’s President said even if the fuel prices lower, he would not be willing to drop the transportation costs.