By EARYEL BOWLEG
Tribune Staff Reporter
ebowleg@tribunemedia.net
TRANSPORT and Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis told bus drivers at a hall meeting last night “you can’t be ungrateful” over the 25 cent rise in adult bus fares.
Drivers and owners along with members of the public attended last night’s town hall meeting to discuss the increase with stakeholders and the public - with a number of drivers saying the increase is insufficient for them to make a living.
The minister said the meeting is a part of consultation and not the end for her presenting the case to modernise the industry. She added she will be going back again to Cabinet.
She said the ministry is undergoing a project which involves a fare increase, the addition of new bus routes, the gazetting of bus stops, the introduction of a uniform for public service drivers, and the launch of an app for members of the public that use public transportation.
The minister said the government granted an increase of 25 cent, to which the audience made their displeasure known.
Mrs Coleby-Davis responded: “We know you asked for more. Yeah, I know the grumbling and the mumbling but that’s okay.”
She said the ministry is now working with law reform and the revision commission so that the increase can be in place for the first of May 2024.
“Ain’t no one clap for that? Listen to me, you can’t be ungrateful. You get something, so let’s go with that, right, and then we’ll go from there.”
The Road Traffic Department is currently reviewing the existing bus routes, with the view to having new roads added.
“Over the last few year, like I’ve said, riding with bus drivers, riding with passengers, I’ve heard that several population changes on New Providence have to be taken into consideration and so because of that we have to go back and upgrade. Making sure that our routes are relevant, to the users, to the locations, to the areas, and be able to expand the routes, gazette the new ones, and ensure that proper markings are in place.”
Many jitney owners and drivers spoke at the event.
Aaron Woodside, of Aaron’s Bus Service, said: “While you said that we should be thankful, grateful was your expression. Let me tell you something ma’am, I’m personally insulted... a grown man with two daughters in university, a mortgage and other financial obligations that 25 cents is the best that you could do and we should be grateful. I could not, ma’am. One daughter in Georgia State University and one daughter in the University of the West Indies - $72,000 a year.
“The taxi drivers got an increase for standing in position of more than the 25 cents. We have to do better. Madame minister, with all due respect, we should not stand up to grown men, businessman. I have mother’s wit and common sense and I’ve used my mother’s wit and common sense to be able to provide for myself and for my family. And I’m telling you this 25 cent nonsense is ridiculous.”
The minister maintained she took the recommendation the industry gave and fought for it.
She said: “I wanted that to be what was approved. The difference with this sector is that we have to find a balance and bridge a balance because of who we service in the sector and so I did not get the number that I was trying for but I was able to get something to start with.
“I think after 16 years, I wanted to get something to start with as opposed to getting nothing and so I fought for something. Not that I’m insulting you, or any driver in here because I do believe the sector should rise as other things rise but that was what I was able to achieve, for the sector and I think I fared well.
“After 16 years of nothing being done, I was able to achieve something at least I wanted to achieve something to start.”
Rudolph Taylor, Unified Bus Drivers Union president, said: “For a long time, bus drivers have been a step- ping stone for persons to get where they wanted to get and they drop us and leave us. So with the minister with all her efforts, she is trying. She may feel a little disap- pointed at this point in time but we knew where the drivers wanted to be.”
He pointed to inflation affecting prices along with vehicle maintenance.
Harrison Moxey, United Public Transportation Company president, said: “We propose $2 increase and we did not get it.So alot of us feel insulted by 25 cents. What we are facing or what we see every day.
“We understand the government’s point that they want to satisfy the public or the electorate from the government standpoint, but we are not politicians. We are business people, the same people that you only want to give 25 cent on the same people that got the minimum wage increase.
“They can pay more so please let them. So we would appreciate that this be revisited, understanding that are we running a deficit and we are being forced to sensitise the general public which is the government’s responsibility.”
Comments
moncurcool 8 months, 3 weeks ago
These people do not know how to get the governments attention. Just stop running the buses and see how the government will respond.
In a business world, how is it that the government is telling you what to charge? And acting like they are doing your a favor by saying they fight to get you 25 cents?
I won't even comment on the need to modernize the bussing system in New Providence, let alone the other Family Islands. The government ha no clue on that.
Sickened 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Gazetting of bus stops!! LOL. What did this comment have to do with anything? What few bus stops there are are totally meaningless as buses stop wherever people are standing.
bobby2 8 months, 3 weeks ago
A total joke & very insulting. 25 cents is simply outragious.
mandela 8 months, 3 weeks ago
What about 2.5. million dollars for a replacement elevator? I guess we should be grateful that the cost wasn't more. These people (governments) believe that they are doing Bahamians a favor while dealing with our affairs and our money, and then, the next few years down the road, they are the ones begging and lying, and if they are voted in, they themselves, then become ungrateful.
TalRussell 8 months, 3 weeks ago
Memo from The Recommendations' Desk of Comrade Tal: To: The Anglican Archdeacon: --- All aboard Crown Minister Comrade "Sister" JoBeth is approaching communism territory smugness with her--- ‘You can’t be ungrateful’ over 25 cent jitney fare rise. ---- Such ministerial plain english verbiage, calls for a Anglican Archdeacon:committee to set up GoFundJitneyOperators'.pages. --- Theys' too has primary and secondary schools and university tuitions and mortgages --- Plus has their jitney finance, insurance, maintenance and licensing payments to honour.. ---- Good Day!
Sickened 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I'm truly shocked that any struggling Bahamian votes for this party. The PLP say they are for the poor man but all they do is spit on us.
TalRussell 8 months, 3 weeks ago
I've picked up a switch in the tone in the way talk shows serial caller, Comrade Anton - now uses to talk down the premiership. ---- Has Comrade "Sparky", fallen ill? --- Good Day!
ThisIsOurs 8 months, 2 weeks ago
His tone will change again once the election date is announced. He simply wants the masses to believe that's he's reasonable. And I believe he can be and has demonstrated that ability. Outside of the election day-30 period that is .
Sparky is banned. He did something off air to trigger the banning which hasnt been revealed on air but that must have been pretty unsavoury to follow him on air. He has a history of these cycles.
BONEFISH 8 months, 2 weeks ago
The island of New Providence and the entire Bahamas needs a modern public transportation system. A proposal for a unified public bus system was presented in the seventies. It was rejected by the PLP government for the fear it would damage the livelihood of taxi drivers.
The lack of proper functioning bus system hurts productivity and is one of the factors driving the high cost of living here. A lady said this on a talk show. If New Providence had a sensible bus system, she catch the bus to and from work during the week. She drive her car on the week end to go the shop and church.
Bahamians are unwilling to modernize this country. They by in large are struck in a by gone era. A comment was made on social media about the Bahamas.The Bahamas is a country that is struck in the nineteen sxties.
ThisIsOurs 8 months, 2 weeks ago
"for the fear it would damage the livelihood of taxi drivers."
And this is the problem. We continue to prop up dying systems. This is anti-innovative and inflationary, because in 2024 we are supporting the taxi driver wanting to maintain their lifestyle off an unsustainable model. The tourist must thrrefore pay quintuple the price for taxi fares and the Bahamian must be left without the service
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