PSV owners ‘to aid operators’

The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) has come to the assistance of public service vehicle (PSV) drivers and conductors who have been negatively affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

At a press conference Thursday morning at BB Insurance Brokers, representatives from the body outlined plans to help PSV workers along with some commuters facing hardships.

Attorney-at-law Shadia Simpson, AOPT PRO Mark Haynes, AOPT Director Craig Banfield

Director of AOPT, Craig Banfield, told Barbados TODAY that they had been receiving several calls for help and as a result would be providing food vouchers and hampers to as many workers as possible.

He called on corporate Barbados to contribute to the initiative.

“Commuters have been calling our command centre to express the many challenges they are facing during this COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in AOPT deciding to go a step further to not only provide assistance to operators, drivers and owners, but also to the daily travelling public that regularly commutes on our transportation system,” Banfield said.

Craig Banfield, AOPT Director

“Through the generosity of BB Insurance Brokers, we have made it possible for the opportunity for food vouchers from A1 Supermarket to be distributed to some of the commuters who the association has initially identified within the St Michael South area, as those persons have been facing many challenges during this critical time of need.”

He said AOPT would also be extending help outside of St Michael South. He also said talks were underway with a fuel company to provide further assistance.

Public Relations Officer Mark Haynes said AOPT felt it was necessary to not only help fellow PSV workers but also its constituents.

He said the decision was taken to despite the transport sector being seriously affected by COVID-19.

Mark Haynes, PRO AOPT

“This sector contributes to Barbados’ GDP [gross domestic product] and we as an organisation we have responded positively to the numerous requests being made to solicit assistance.

“We as an organisation cannot give up on the workers on the sector. Both the conductors and the drivers are having a hard time and notwithstanding that they have not contributed to the NIS as they ought to, notwithstanding that they are still human beings…we cannot leave them by the wayside,” Haynes explained.

AOPT’s attorney-at-law, Shadia Simpson, pleaded with PSV workers to contribute to the National Insurance Scheme whenever the pandemic passed and they returned to work.

She said a vast majority of them were not making contributions and as a result were not able to claim benefits during the pandemic.

Shadia Simpson, Attorney-at-law AOPT

“Coming out of the pandemic that we are facing is that several of our constituents being PSV operators and drivers are not contributing to the NIS and this is a real concern because at this point in time they are not in a position where they can benefit as such.

“We want to stress that it is imperative that when the operators get back out there that they seek to make things right in terms of contributing to the NIS,” Simpson told reporters. (RB)