Route 44 minibuses demanding double fare – passengers

…hotline to be established for exploited commuters – minibus association

Although the minibus fare is expected to be increased by $20 come September 1, several route 44 (Georgetown-Mahaica) minibus operators have established their very own fare structures and have been demanding an additional fare from commuters.
Guyana Times understands that some operators have been demanding as much as $100 extra at nights, and are even overloading the minibuses, since according to them, gasoline prices are high.
Speaking with this newspaper, a disgruntled passenger said he finds it extremely upsetting that a decision was taken to raise minibus fares when those very minibus drivers and conductors, particularly those who operate on the East Coast Demerara (ECD) bus park, continue to exploit passengers.
“Passengers like me are left to wait for long periods for minibuses especially in the evening and because the park is always filled with passengers especially around

18-19:00h. They tend to raise their fares sometimes doubling it and overloading the buses. I have come across cases where some passengers complain but because they have waited for half an hour, one hour and sometime more, they tend not to say anything because most times they have spent hours at work and are tired and just want to get home,” the commuter said.
Another pointed out that minibuses that operate the Victoria, Anns Grove, Golden Grove route charge $200 per passenger in the evenings.
“The passage for a person at Mon Repos is $120 and Montrose $100. Even for those who refuse to pay the price they call for, they’re sometimes verbally abused and embarrassed by the same minibus drivers and conductors. The situation at the 44 minibus park is becoming more and more ridiculous and must be looked into urgently with the aim of finding a solution to the problem.”
When this publication visited the park on Wednesday afternoon, several passengers agreed that the minibus operators are indeed exploiting them.
A 14-year-old school child of Golden Grove complained that when he travels with the minibuses in the route 44 zone to and from schoo, they would usually take his money and not give him any change. Whenever he requested it, the conductors would insult him.
Deon (only name given), from Buxton, ECD, who also uses the route 44 minibuses said although the fare is $120, “They request like $200 sometimes, but I don’t pay it. I always have my change so I would pay just the fare that I know.” She said whenever she fails to pay what the drivers request, some would verbally abuse her.
According to her, the increase is usually demanded in the evening. She added, “It is very dangerous and I would like to call on the relevant authorities to look into it”.
Robena Seamore from Haslington, ECD complained, “The Victoria buses they take $160 while the Enmore buses take $200… they have favourites at certain times of the day so passengers are here waiting almost stranded… but during the day if you come they are running coming to get you.”
Meanwhile, when contacted, President of the United Minibus Union (UMU), Eon Andrews made it clear that the reign and dictatorship that minibus operators have over passengers on the various bus parks are winding down as the Business Ministry, through its Consumer Affairs Department, continues to engage the Union on ways to implement a much needed code of conduct for the ‘unruly’ drivers.
Andrews explained that the Union and the Business Ministry are in talks to establish a hotline number where passengers will be able to make complaints against the sometimes rude and exploitative drivers.
According to him, the Business Ministry will be working along with the Public Security Ministry and possibly the Public Infrastructure Ministry to ensure that the necessary control over these drivers is achieved in the near future.
The President of the UMU noted, “Because of this so called free market system, people get the power to do a lot of things which doesn’t mean the travelling public has to go along with it”.
He said he is aware of the fact that minibuses in various zones have been exploiting passengers tremendously.
Although the head of the UMU was unable to say how soon the hotline number will be launched for the general public, he reiterated the importance of such a measure being implemented.