A group of mini-bus operators from a number of zones within Georgetown gathered at the Square of the Revolution this morning to register their protest of the Government’s position on their calls for an increase in the fares they charge.

The Government has been saying that it has not authorized any increase in the public transportation fares and drivers have been warned by Government officials and the police against increasing their fares, citing the removal of excise taxes a few years back from fuel imports.

But with the recent increase in fuel prices, bus drivers say they plan to move ahead with an increase in their fares.  At the Square of the Revolution this morning, the drivers made the point that decisions are being made about them without them being involved in any of the discussions.

“I personally believe that yes this sector needs regulating, it needs some kind of regulation because we can’t leave everybody to work willy nilly and for themselves. But if you are going to regulate a sector, shouldn’t you have stakeholders from this sector in the body that doing the regulation, and we are not being heard. We are not being heard, we are being told what to do, dictatorially, we are being told what to do, and no body is asking us what are we going through, what is our problem, why do you need a fare increase. I have heard the Minister Mr. Edghill speak, I have read Mr. Ashni Singh comments and I have heard the President speak yesterday and all they are speaking about is that the Government has given a tax exemption on gas and because of that tax exemption, fares shouldn’t raise. What about all the other commodities that we have to get to get this going, what about tyres and what about parts”, one driver questioned.

Other drivers made a similar point and explained that they too are facing the increase in the cost of living in the market places every day and they also have families to feed.

The drivers believe officials need to meet with them and understand the struggle that many of them are facing, instead of lecturing them against increasing their fares.

On Wednesday, drivers on the West Demerara staged a protest of their own on the same issue. 

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