| As minibus operators plying the East Bank Demerara route (42) held true to promises to charge $20 more on the fare, government last evening used several big buses in an attempt to break the increases.Scores of passengers were given a free ride, with Transport Minister Robeson Benn vowing to keep on using the large buses until operators back down.While a number of passengers refused to support the move, the six big buses were filled quickly forcing conductors to revert to the old fares for the time.Fares were being raised by $20 for short drops, $40 for intermediate and $60 extra for Timehri, which meant that a trip to the airport via this mode would now cost $300.“We are sending several of these big buses to Grove and Diamond tomorrow (this) morning and we will continue to do so to ensure that people are not taken advantage of,” said the Minister who was on hand at the Stabroek Market last evening to monitor the developments.“Minister (Manniram) Prashad made it clear recently that we will be willing to look at increases once gas prices pass $1,000 (at Guyoil). That is not the case. I want to say in the strongest terms that reports of people being forced and abused to pay more will not be tolerated!” a determined Benn stressed.This morning, several of the larger buses will be used to service the Diamond and Grove areas, two of the largest villages on the East Bank Demerara,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, which was seriously affected by Wednesday’s strike.Last Wednesday, the route 42 operators staged a strike at the empty lot next to the National Stadium,Wholesale Jerseys US, Providence East Bank Demerara, leaving many commuters stranded throughout the day.Some drivers proudly displayed new fare lists in the windows of their respective buses, while others had the list in more than one place in the vehicles.Recently the route 45 and route 46 buses raised their fares from $60 to $80,Wholesale NBA Jerseys, since the United Minibus Union (UMU) under whose representation they operate,Jerseys NFL Wholesale, implemented their new fare structures.“How can the Government say one thing and people got to face another thing. What is going on in this country? Everybody wants more money, nobody salary isn’t raising, but the minibuses want to force people to pay more and the Government doing nothing,” one peeved commuter said.Government last month slashed the excise tax on gasoline to 20 per cent as world prices on fuel continued to climb, while the tax on diesel from 20 per cent to 15 per cent.While the state-owned GuyOil is selling a gallon below $1,000, many privately owned entities are above that mark.“Another problem is that when the gas prices drop,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, the minibuses refuse to drop their fare. How could that be fair to the passengers? We are saying let us sit again and talk about this. I invited them a few weeks ago but nobody came,” Minister Benn disclosed.Minibus operators have been complaining that escalating costs,Adidas Mike Fisher Jersey, in parts and the gas prices, are the reasons for raising the fares. They are also contending that the government has no say because the operations are private.There have been reported clashes between at least one union and government over the issue. |
