Mini-bus drivers continue to threaten strike action as they press for increased fares amid the steep rise in fuel costs. With the Government pushing back any such increase, the opposition People’s National Congress led-APNU believes the administration needs to meet and engage the drivers that provide a public transportation service on the issue.

General Secretary of the People’s National Congress Reform, Sherwin Benjamin, told reporters today that the issue cannot be ignored and all sides should be considered.

“The action of the Government with respect to the mini-bus issue shows their incompetence and how they deal with national issues. Rather than have a holistic approach and come meet the mini-bus association and the mini-bus owners, and have a well documented plan, have the mini-buses regulated and so on, you will find them threatening to do this and do that”, Benjamin said.

He said the Government appears to be employing a bullying tactic by not engaging with the mini-bus operators on the issue, leaving the entire issue unresolved.

“Let us cast our minds back to the teachers issue and the teachers strike, it was a similar tactic that was employed, that look you can strike, we will bring teachers to teach here. And when it was the issue with the nurses, it was the same thing, and so what we have is a situation where there is a government that is bankrupt on ideas and rather than sit with the people who are operating in the industry and find a sensible solution to deal with it, they resort to pressure and threats”, the PNCR official noted.

The Government has been citing the removal of the excise tax on fuel more than three years ago as a reason for the drivers not to increase their fares. However, drivers have pointed to the increase in vehicle parts and the increase in the general cost of living. They have reminded that they are also facing the increases in the shops and supermarkets.

Related posts:

Mini-bus drivers complain of being ignored in conversations over fares Finance Minister pleads for good conscience to prevail against public transportation fare hike Route 42 drivers picket for increase in fare, citing no increases in over 10 years Route 42 bus drivers seek fare increase and addition of new route