by Curlan Campbell
- National Bus Association maintains increase in bus fare across the board necessary to ensure their survival
- Initial suggestion for increase in bus fare was $1.50
- 2005 was last time increase in bus fare was negotiated with government
The National Bus Association maintains that a 50¢ increase in bus fare across the board is necessary to ensure their survival as the island slowly recovers following lockdown measures taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Although the association agrees that the hike in price comes at a difficult period, the association’s president, Garth Woodroffe, during a press conference held on Monday, 1 June said the increase is long overdue, especially taking into consideration the expectation that bus operators must carry significantly fewer passengers in accordance with the Covid-19 regulation for bus operators. “We proposed that 50¢ increase because it would help immediately with the financial loss that we would face since under the regulation we would of have to carry [fewer] passengers, and under this regulation here it is really 8 passengers, that’s more than a 50% cut each trip,” he said.
A meeting is set for Tuesday, 2 June 2020, between the National Bus Association and the Transport Board within the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Public Utilities, Energy, Transport and Implementation, to decide if the increase will take effect. Woodroffe said a favourable outcome is expected that will ultimately decide whether or not buses will resume operations on the nation’s roads. “I pray we have good news. We want to get back out to work…from tomorrow we are asking all buses to show a stand of unity and we will stay home.”
2005 was the last time an increase in bus fare was negotiated with government, in keeping with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2002 that prices be reviewed every 2 years. Since then, Woodroffe said, the cost of living has significantly increased while bus fares remain stagnant. He advocates that as operators of privately owned buses, the hands of the association should not be tied when it comes to determining an increase in bus fare. “Buses in Grenada are privately owned; it is a private investment. Our hands cannot be tied as to what we can charge or cannot charge based on supply and demand afforded to us.”
The association said the financial hardship faced by bus operators has been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, therefore, it is now necessary to have that price increase to ensure the viability of their business. Woodroffe pointed to the fact that the initial suggestion for an increase in bus fare by the association was $1.50 based on their operating expenses, but was reduced to 50¢ after further consultation.
As the association prepares for Tuesday’s meeting with the Transport Board, Woodroffe has called on bus operators not yet registered with the association to do so since the fee will be waived. The association is also requesting that they have representation from one of their members on the Transport Board. Other matters to be ironed out with the Transport Board is the clarification of conflicting information on seating arrangements for buses plying the various routes, and to discuss the underpayment made to those 30 bus operators who assisted the Ministry of Health transport essential workers during the lockdown.
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To be honest find it unfair that privately own buses provide national transportation without needed support from the government. National Transportation Service (NTS) and Public Transportation Service (PTS) failed. If the government was required to buy and maintained buses with will be a lot more expensive to the tax payer. Private bus driver have government pension to get.
It’s unfair bus owners to take out $138K loans to provide public transport. In my view the government should absorb the cost of fuel and or reduce duties on replacement parts. If the government owned buses there would have to be garages with mechanics and spare parts etc.
There are incentives that can be offered and different approaches to address public transportation issues. I will discuss a few.
One, the government can do business and act as a middle with other countries for use buses which will significantly reduce the cost. For example, the government can setup office Japan to make sure used buses/vehicles imported in Grenada meet standards while at the same time reducing cost. I support used vehicles because there is huge value. Grenada does not build or have an auto industry so there is no need to protect New car sales. Instead of the government increasing import duties it should reduced import duties on vehicles used for public transportation.
Two, as mentioned provide fuel subsidy to bus owners.
Three, employment creation opportunities. Provide incentives to bus owners who hire drivers and conductors. When is the last bus from st. George’s to Sauteurs, Grenville etc. People will travel and spend more if there is readily available transportation.
Finally, bus fares is directly related to transportation cost. When transportation cost are high people will resort to privately own vehicles. Hence, the increase of importation of used vehicles. I traveled on buses from Hermitage area on the early mornings to St. George’s and often ask how do people do it when half their salary can easily go toward transportation. In fact some bus drivers/owners offer discounts and weekly/fortnightly payment options.
Government can certainly work with bus owners to provide further driver training and help reduce bus maintenance cost. With reduced maintenance cost drivers will drive at break neck speed.
If they’re gonna put their prices up they should be made to play some decent [email protected] music instead of that (c)rap they play.
The only bus men that will benefit from this increase is short drop buses… i.e Grand Anse.
If I was government I will change bus price base on kilometer travel rather than route.
Grand Anse is 3.6 miles and paying $2.50
Gouyav3 is 12.9 miles and paying $5.00
Where the equality in the bus prices?
Grenada don’t have good trade connection with foreign countries neither enough recourses for trading on the world market now . The basic source of trade should be agricultural development .
The public bus business owners experience the same disadvantages as many other public business owners of businesses around third world countries and to be specific on Grenada bus problem plus 50 cent increase , many people salary in Grenada should be increase .
If the problem lies among trade and Aid we would be fighting amongst our self. Grenada had a public transport system that was a good project with potential for development in the transport technology and should of been used not only as a public transportation system but also a start to create local qualification in vehicular development and job training for students on internship similarly like the local tourist train.
Grenada has many hills and valleys perfect for traveling in the air by cable carts and small trains on electric cable lines a few hundred feet all over the island from parish to parish and island to island.
A local transportation system with vehicles powered by electricity or water and hydrogen and even wind turbine generators , electric trains on the land and same at sea.
The right energy can cut cost in the transportation system only if it can be maintained by locally trained people and development of local institutions apart from TAMCC .
In Grenada the highest institute of learning for education is TAMCC . With increase of cost of day to day living like bus price , food, health , travel, education, and much more.
From 1974 to 2020 no other local institute and local university has been developed to educate Grenadians to rise above poverty like mental slavery symptoms in all aspect of the country and the peoples development to be able to afford cost .
I like the idea of cablecars between parishes. We could put the government ministers in them during the next hurricane and lock the [email protected] doors. Have a democratic vote on who goes for a ride.
Not clear to me whether the requested increase applies only to the period during which the buses are impacted by the Chinese Virus or intended to continue into the future. If it is the latter (i.e.a permanent fare increase), the incredible number of buses that constantly clog the (sorely) inadequate roads would indicate that owning and operating buses was/is an attractive investment/occupation prior to the Virus onset and argue against any need for a permanent increase, despite the lack of any increase in the many prior years.
If all of the buses are privately owned what is the organization is there for ?
There was an increase in 2007. That same $1.50