Bring back the big buses To the Editor
Guyana Chronicle
February 2, 2002


IN many ways our various Governments are responsible for the atrocious transport situation we have in Guyana. The scrapping of the railway was a bad decision. The scrapping of private bus transport and creation of a bus transport under the Ministry of Transport during Mr. Burnham’s regime was a dismal failure, which created the mini bus culture of vulgarity, lawlessness, unreliability, and absolute madness. Our people are damaged and our children are programmed for sick music, which sends them into a frenzy of vulgarity and which obviously affects their hearing, their studies, and their future.

Now what to do? Immediately work to scrap the mini-bus culture. Encourage the use of large buses in the various regions. Government should give incentives to encourage the use of large buses on schedule and ease buses to run in various areas and directions according to schedule. Some buses to operate as express and some to stop as requested at bus stops. Order has to be established.

The drivers and conductors to be trained in communication and responsible behaviour. Drivers and conductors to wear an approved uniform. Music will be only soft and at a low tone.

The Government and people of this country cannot allow mini bus operators to hold the nation to ransom. We cannot allow any sick leader, bereft of sense and positive vision to take advantage of those who cannot see beyond their noses.

Immediately, grant permission for other route operators to operate in the areas affected whenever buses go on strike.

Immediately, suspend the road service permit of all those who refuse to transport people. Their service permit was issued for them to transport people. Further they received concessions from the customs department and hence, they should be made to pay the difference to the Revenue Department. Immediately unleash the IRD on them. Do they pay, as they should to the Government’s treasury? Obviously they make lots of money to purchase such expensive noise machines, which they call music.
Roshan Khan