TCT minister expects new bus fares for NVB

The minister of Transport Communications and Tourism (TCT), Albert Jubithana, expects the new fares for the boats and buses that render their services to the National Transport Company (NVB) to be presented this week.

He explained that officials have tried to keep the bus and boat fares at an affordable level for the less fortunate. Iwan Woon, deputy chairman of the Organization of Boat and Bus Owners in Suriname (OBS), said, however, that it seems like the boats and buses that work for the NVB will not return to their routes this week. The Council of Ministers still has to discuss the new bus and boat fares for the NVB.

Woon explained that when the fares have been given the green light, the TCT minister must announce them to make it official. The NVB must then have the new fares printed on tickets. The bus fare for a ride through the city on a state bus has been raised from SRD 0.85 to SRD 2.50. The bus fares for the other routes have also been raised. The deputy chairman made it clear that the union and the NVB still have not reached an agreement regarding the money that each bus and boat owner will receive for each route and for each day. “Once the fares have been determined, we will start rendering our services again. We will also start negotiating with the NVB to look at the rental fees.” The NVB receives state subsidy to make sure that public transportation remains affordable for poor people.