Authorities must not drop the ball in reforming callous minibus service
Dear Editor,
I travel at times on our mini bus service on the Kitty buses no. 40. The disrespect for the travelling public is a big one requiring urgent attention. The loud music with no consideration for their passengers. When asked to turn the music down, some comply some don’t and I would choose to get off the bus if it is not turned down to my satisfaction. There are times I choose to endure it but there are times I won’t. The vulgar demeaning music – children or adult passengers, it matters not – all ages are subject to the same treatment or what they term service. I think of the school children bombarded with noise and inappropriate music in their ears and minds as they prepare to enter their schoolrooms. Some say the children love the music and this type of treatment but for me, that is what they were born into, not knowing anything different. They came and met this type of service. It seems the efforts at changing this mini bus culture were not sustained. Again, it seems, no government administration has ever properly addressed this irritant; this vexatious matter of this disgusting, lousy service we call public transportation. Are we proud of the service? It seems we are, since all are accepting of it.
My first encounter on the bus some eight years ago: Here’s the scenario. I am already on the bus – a number 41 bus. The bus stops at Camp and South Road to pick up passengers. I’m in the row of seats before the back seats. All the seats in my row are taken, yet a new passenger joining the bus is directed by the Conductor to the row I’m in. I see the male passenger coming towards me. I, not understanding what I was supposed to do or what was expected of me, in a reflex action with outstretched hands, bag in hand, immediately said: “where are you going, there are no seats here.” The passenger had no choice but to retreat and in backing out said, I accosted him. I asked the Conductor where, really he was expected to sit? The Conductor said something like, oh, the bus is full and moved on. Clearly the Conductor recognized I was unfamiliar to the culture of “dressing down” or as they say “small up yourself”.
The sometimes perspiration smelling odour buses; the torn upholstery seats; the seats covered with fabric retaining the perspiration odour; the temptation to overload the buses when passengers fail to speak out; the actual overload of buses as though the passengers were cargo that they could be piled one on top the other and the passengers are accommodating of this service. The easy acceptance of the passengers who mind their own business, when it is our business to critique the service. It seems passengers fear victimization since if this is one’s mode of transportation, I understand they would be left on the street because of their forthrightness to speak out. It is pathetic to actually witness this firsthand. Be it known, law men or law women, are all subject to the same service and they too comply with the requirements for travelling on the bus, whether identified by uniform or familiar to the drivers and conductors, it does not make a difference. It seems on the mini bus the law enforcer is a passenger and a member of the travelling public. Here are some further observations:
* The seat behind the Driver accommodates three passengers yet all the Conductors and Drivers insist and
deem this seat must fit four passengers. The result, these persons are all jammed one to the other. This is normal – lawmen and lawwomen position themselves the same way. There are few passengers who object.
* Passengers carrying on conversations over the head of other passengers. The scenario – two young men join the bus and go to the back of the bus sitting on either end of the seat and are conversing, another passenger joins the bus and sits in the middle of these two passengers who continue to converse over the passenger for at least 15 minutes. What is amazing, the passenger sitting between, is a senior, says nothing and the conversation continues until I depart the bus. I am known to speak out but I let better judgement and wisdom prevail – when to speak and when not to speak. In this instance I did not speak. From the conversation of the two young men I learnt they were either trainees or civilians working in the Army. They joined the bus at Camp Ayanganna. I was witnessing firsthand the impoliteness, discourtesy and all the unethical behaviour that left me wondering, will these matters ever be addressed? Clearly these two young men were oblivious that this was uncouth behaviour that was offensive and downright disgusting. There are times too when I speak and others would join in. These times are infrequent. Because this culture has been allowed to continue year in year out, the behaviour has become chronic with everyone minding their own business seemingly only interested in getting to their destination.
* Passengers play cellphone music over the heads of other passengers.
* Cleanliness of buses: when you enter a bus that is free from derogatory music, there is another annoyance, that of a dirty bus. This could be an exception but the fact is, this too is part of the service offered. There are a few Drivers and Conductors that demonstrate pride of service and demonstrate care and courtesy for their passengers but they are in the minority.
* Persons waiting to join the bus flag down the bus most times at the last minute causing the buses to stop suddenly. These potential passengers need to do a show of hand earlier. This way they will minimize the many near accidents that could be caused by this seemingly unconcerned act of failing to offer consideration for the moving bus which could result in an accident, were it not for the dexterity of the Drivers.
* Bus Drivers smoke and drink at times in between bus routes, at times they are barefaced to have a beer bottle in hand while driving.
* The non-use of the bus stops. Drivers pick up and put off passengers anywhere blatantly disregarding the bus stops along the bus route. Drivers and passenger indulge in this practice all they time. Every passenger wants to disembark at a corner or at an identified building irrespective of whether a bus stop is in sight. When I’m on the bus I would insist my stop is the bus stop and not at a corner. Sometimes the Driver or Conductor would ask to put me off at the corner and I would loudly repeat that I am getting off at the bus stop. Sometimes they end up taking me to the corner and I would say this is not the bus stop. They never really respond. Nothing works. The Drivers and Conductors ignore my pleas. Some listen, some don’t. A lone voice cannot change a system. I can only help to bring these matters to the attention of the responsible authorities. I am providing the authorities the benefit of my experience on our bus transportation.
There are some buses that yearn for a uniformed mode of operation but they are in the minority. It is interesting to note that the lawlessness pervaded for so long that some members of the travelling public actually display a preference for the lewd behaviour. It is time we stop feeding this behaviour and rise to a service of decency and decorum.
Another observation is that some Drivers and Conductors actually say they will lose business if they do not join or support the ‘madness’. So what you have is a vicious cycle of going nowhere for a better transportation service. A friend once told me when he decided to put a bus in service on the road and offer a quality service, he suffered loss of profitable income and had to discontinue the service, since the established transportation culture dictates a particular type of service.
I conclude these bus Drivers and Conductors do not know right from wrong and they need to be quickly rescued before they further self-destruct continuing with a service that is displeasing but tolerated by the travelling public. There are no choices when it comes to this service.
What with oil soon to be released and the influx of foreigners soon to descend on Guyana. We need to be properly and decently prepared to provide a high level of transportation service both to the Guyanese public and to our visitors.
I often think that the authorities responsible for this service, should travel for a protracted period of time on the buses to observe the service and to learn firsthand what needs to be corrected. It is this disservice, this disrespect that is affecting the day to day lives of the public with no noticeable changes in sight.
It seems once we drive our cars we are unmindful of the service meted out to persons who must use public transportation. I am a driver of many years and never before could I have ever imagined this was the service endured by my fellow Guyanese and foreigners.
My now experience in 2019 is a young woman combing her hair in the bus around all the passengers. What is appalling is that the Driver (there was no Conductor on this bus) does not know it is his responsibility to correct this misdemeanor. This is another matter, where many times buses are without the services of a Conductor. I did speak with him on leaving the bus after disembarking but my first comment was to commend him for a better conducted bus. Actually it is difficult to speak to these issues openly since one has to remember there is a way to address correction. This is why an authoritative body must come forward and set in place a uniform standard of operations across the board for this service. Guidance is badly lacking. The public is minding their own business and the responsible authorities also seem to be minding their own business.
Here are some solutions for my beautiful land of Guyana of rivers and plains made rich by the sunshine and lush by the rains. Telephone numbers should be displayed inside and outside the bus so the travelling public knows where to call when there is breach of protocol. There should be a uniformed standard of transportation conduct for both Driver and Conductor. This would bring back pride and joy to our country. A monitoring system needs to be in place until all the service providers – Bus Owner, Driver and Conductor, understand the new code of conduct. It would be beautiful for Guyanese to experience this transformation and for our youth to experience what courtesy is about. This way customer service is introduced throughout the transportation industry. The Drivers and Conductors would experience a newness of life and understand value for self and others; dignity restored and the beauty of Guyanese – beauty of service and respect for each other regained and patriotism returned. We will then begin to have a satisfactory service being offered to our people and to our visitors.
As I conclude this letter, I learnt over the weekend that INews carried an article this past week about a code of conduct being released for Mini Bus Drivers and Conductors. This is a breath of fresh air and I welcome the fact that at last, this problem is being addressed. It seems finally the authorities responsible for this sector has awaken to what is expected of them demonstrating accountability to the travelling public.
This neglected service is a very vexing one and can be ventilated at length over and over. To the authorities please don’t drop the ball. Rather, take pride in developing this industry for years to come. Stop the neglect and enforce the laws and implement the plan.
Concerned citizen and a member of the travelling public,