By Stabroek News

Copyright stabroeknews

Dear Editor,

Despite repeated condemnations from all sides, police officers could still be seen on the roadways at various locations countrywide performing traffic duties without a traffic rank among them. Many people I’ve spoken to, including active and ex-police officers, are of the view that they are there to extort money from motorists. Despite warnings from the seniors and others, this blatant racketeering continues. Now that there’s a new Minister of Home Affairs, the public awaits to see what action will be taken or if it will be business as usual.

Editor, taking one of my kids to school on a few occasions using the minibuses, I thought we were unfortunate to have gotten on the wrong bus, but it seemed as if all the buses are the same. Imagine, you’re now leaving your home to embark on your mission for the day, and your first encounter is a public transport that’s blaring a vile and vulgar piece of music supported by a DJ coercing listeners to degrade females. Many of the passengers would be teachers, nurses, school children of various ages etc., and even though objections were upon raised, they were ignored or frowned on. As it is presently, the minibus operators seemed to be in competition with each other to play the most derogatory and lewd music without any regard to the passengers.

Finally Editor, despite public cries relating to public transportation, nobody seems to have an interest in getting this sector properly regulated. There is the so-called appointed monitors that are allowing bus operators to inform the passengers that the fare is above the legal amount, but given that these monitors are making in excess of 20-25,000 a day from the minibuses, one wouldn’t expect them to go against the minibuses. The relevant authorities had advised commuters to walk with exact fares and when they do pay the exact amount, the operators become aggressive attempting to embarrass the commuter.

In a nutshell, the minibuses are still overloading, overcharging, blaring the most vulgar music and commuters are still forced to travel in discomfort (steel seats) while the relevant authorities are whistling merrily away that we are developing!

Sahadeo Bates