Bicycles May Arrive From February

TWENTY thousand ladies and gents bicycles are expected here within the next five months, providing relief for Guyana’s existing transportation difficulties.

On February 6, the first shipment of 1,000 ladies bicycles will arrive, the second, third and fourth shipments of 5,000 ladies and gents each are scheduled to arrive on March 6, April 17 and May 30 respectively, and the fifth of 4,000 on July 11.

It is not yet known which country the cycles are coming from, how they will be distributed and at what prices though public servants may be given first preference.

Transportation has been an ongoing problem facing many public-sector workers triggered by unreliable ferry services, frequent fuel shortages, fare hikes due to increased operating costs for mini-bus and hire car operators and strikes by transport workers for increased meal allowances and other payments.

In his new year’s message, General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Mr. Joseph Pollydore, commented that in face of last year’s devaluation, “transportation costs immediately escalated to the extent that a number of workers employed at the new minimum wage of $29.95 a day or even at higher intermediate rates in the public sector found it uneconomic to continue in their employment.”

News of the bicycles was first announced by Finance Minister Mr. Carl Greenidge in his budget speech last March as a measure to relieve workers.