Government acknowledges bus operators’ positive response to the call for a conducive environment so that the suspension to dialogue can be removed. As such, government intends to resume its engagement with bus operators under a structured approach.
Further, government has given consideration to the following areas of operational changes and support to bus operators.
From Tuesday, 16 June 2020 the following operational changes will take effect:
- Increased maximum carrying capacity from 12 to 14 occupants at any one time on mini buses. Coasters are allowed 3 persons per row and 1 person in line with the driver.
- The retention of a conductor will not be mandatory on certain conditions being satisfied. Bus operators may use a conductor or an alternative method which is to be approved by a joint team of the RGPF and the Ministry of Health. The RGPF will provide further information on this process.
- To protect the health and safety of everyone bus operators are required to ensure hand sanitisation of every passenger entering their buses. While the government recognises that sanitisation is the responsibility of the bus operators, the Division of Transport will continue bearing the cost which could reach $50,000 per month for a 4-month period, June to September 2020.
Additionally, consideration is being given to some form of relief on bus terminal fees for the period July to September. Already bus operators have had fees waived for the month of June. Government will review all measures of support in August.
Government reminds that there is no change to the bus fare. Further, bus operators engaging in ‘price gouging’ should refrain from doing so as this is against the law.
There will be enhanced monitoring of buses within bus terminals and en route, to ensure compliance with all requirements of operations.
Non-compliance with established regulations and/ or protocols will result in fines in cases of ticketed offences and/or ineligibility to operate unless violation is remedied.
Additional details on the above operational requirements will be communicated to the bus operators and general public.
GIS
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@JT. First, I find you to be very condescending to your own people. I must remind you public transportation in Grenada is provided by private individuals. A brand new bus is $140k plus .
Few decades ago there were the NTS (National Transportation Services and PTS ( Public Transportation Services). This was undertaken by the government and they all failed due to huge cost overruns and bad management. Today the government don’t have to hire mechanics and maintain a fleet garage. To add, the government don’t have to pay any pensions.
So before you resort to disparaging discourse I will suggest you look at things at a different perspective.
What I will suggest is the government work with bus owners. For example, fuel and used parts concessions. Additionally, provide training such as road safety and working with the public. After all they are transporting our most valuable resources.
Probably, you should take $140k of your own money and put bus on the road. Imagine having to make monthly payments to the bank and you are restricted to ply only one route, a route that might only be busy for a couple hrs in the morning and afternoon.
As for the noise bus drivers can be trained to tone it down but at the end of the day it’s a privately own bus used for public transport.
A gallon of gas is $16.
JT wants London style buses in Grenada. You gonna widen all the roads first mon? Even Lewis Hamilton couldn’t drive a proper bus in Grenada. And you wouldn’t wanna be on the top deck when he went through the Sendall tunnel either!
John Thomas – Very accurate statement. If only the majority of Grenadians have the ability access, read, digest and act in accordance with the content of your statement. The question I keep asking myself. Do people in Grenada care of have they got any perception of what good quality transportation looks like? In regards to our government, members of the powers that be drive in their own or ministerial transport and are totally devoid of the plight of the Grenadian people.
It is a truism that most people are able to adjust to almost any type of condition or situation over time and may even develop deep affection for and affinity towards conditions that they felt unbearable initially.
The above reminds me of the so-called bus service that we, Indigenous Grenadians, are forced to accept, and which I would not gift to my worst enemy. It is hard to understand how we, Indigenous Grenadians, have resorted to accepting this when the revolution showed us that we can do much better.
First of all, these so-called buses are not buses in actuality but minivans that people in more sensible places use to transport their families, which maybe on average 4-6 persons.
However, being the ingenious people that we are when it comes to non-nonsensical practices, attitude, and culture; we have decided to congest our extremely narrow roads with the never-ending importation of these family minivans for use as public buses.
We see that these minivans are not substitutes for proper buses needed to transport our most important resources, our people; however, our government hides its head in the sand and pretend this is a solution. Not sure what this government is trying to negotiate given that these vehicles are not buses.
The only real uses for these family minivan is to help create the pretension that a large percentage of our male population, who do not have the skills and common sense to produce anything, are employed when in fact all most of them do is produce loud noises, unsafe driving practices, traffic congestion, child molestation, and more.
It is about time we take stock of this ugly situation and come up with a real solution instead of making auto dealerships, such as Steel and the likes, rich from selling what could be considered as on-road versions of the re-enactment of the slave ships that brought our ancestors to this island.
Wake up my Indigenous Grenadians and demand real buses as these sardine cans that they are calling buses are not safe and suitable for us and our children. We deserve much better! We must stop getting use to non-nonsensical conditions!