Region 10 officials urge public transporters to return to original fares

In light of Government’s decision for vehicles to carry the prescribed number of passengers that they are licensed to, the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) has urged public transporters to return to original fares.
Several public transportation services had increased fares, due to a reduction in the number of passengers they were allowed to transport under a gazetted order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
In Linden, drivers had doubled their fares and increases were also registered with some vehicles travelling from Linden to Georgetown. However, in a recent statement issued by the Council, operators were urged to reduce their fares.
“The Regional Democratic Council has noted the provisions outlined by Government in the Official Gazette of December 30th, 2020, where it is ordered that: “any person who provides public transportation within Guyana, whether by land, water or air may carry the number of passengers which the motor vehicle is licensed to carry and shall comply with the measures under paragraph 12” (which states that each passenger must wear a face mask).
The Council further stated that it noted that operators of hire cars and buses had raised their fares in the face of having to carry a reduced number of passengers.
“Our nurses, teachers, students and indeed all residents have borne these increased charges for many months now, and since the Government has decided to allow public transportation providers to return their operations to normal, it is only fair that the transportation charges are returned to normal as well. As such, the Council urges those persons providing public transportation to return to the original transportation charges immediately,” the Council stated.
The RDC also urged residents to continue to practice social distancing where possible, to wear a face mask correctly if this is not possible as well as to wash or sanitise their hands frequently, while respecting all COVID-19 guidelines as established by the Ministry of Health.
The increase in fares in the community had also engaged the attention of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC). Senior citizens, in particular, were impacted and had complained about the steep increase in fares in Linden.