Mini-bus associations agree to reduce fares from Friday

chronicle
By Priya Nauth
MINI-BUS fares countrywide are expected to revert to what they were before the current increase, with effect from Friday, according to Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad.


Speaking at his South Road, Georgetown office, he announced yesterday that, after several discussions with the General Mini-Bus Association (GMBA) and the Guyana Public Transportation Association (GPTA) following the reduction of the fuel prices, the decision was taken in the interest of the consuming public.


The last fare rise by public transport operators was introduced when gasolene costs exceeded $1,000 per gallon.


Prashad said the whole idea of the intervention is because Government is concerned, as it wants to make sure people have affordable transport and are not fleeced by unscrupulous bus owners.


"I am pleased to say, in the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding between the mini-bus associations and the Commerce Department, they agreed to reduce the prices," he said, reiterating that "the mini-bus fares will come back to what they were before the increase."


"We would like to see the reduction take effect immediately because they have already started acquiring the gas and diesel at the reduced prices. I am still speaking with them," Prashad said.


He also mentioned that the price of kerosene has been lowered significantly, by 30 per cent and assured that his ministry will be monitoring the situation closely throughout the country.


Prashad said there will be ongoing discussions with the associations to address various issues, including how to make public transport safer and vehicle parts acquisition cheaper.


He said some routes for which there is no established association have already lessened the fares and expressed hope that all the associations in the country will follow the line taken by the GMBA and GPTA.


Prashad said he sent out a team of persons yesterday afternoon to check the various routes and see what is happening but, by Friday, the reduction is expected to be in effect throughout the entire country.


"As our calls for the reduction on the high gas prices have been heeded by the Government, we will uphold our end of the bargain by reducing our fares," a spokesman for GMBA pledged.


He said they have made clear to Government that, should the gas price reach $1,000 a gallon again, charges will automatically be adjusted.


Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) is now retailing gasoline at $777 per gallon, 20.7 per cent less than the previous $980; dieselene at $791 per gallon, 20.2 per cent lower than the $991 previously charged and kerosene at $623 per gallon, 30.6 per cent below the former $898.