PSV group not happy with new COVID-19 penalties

by Kareem Smith

Harsh, discriminatory and grossly unfair!

That is how Chairman of the Association of Public Transport Operators Kenneth Best has described a slew of new measures that penalise owners, drivers and conductors of Public Service Vehicles (PSV) for breaching COVID-19 protocols.

Drivers, conductors and PSV permits would be suspended for seven days for any infringement.   

The action was contained in an amendment to the Emergency Management (COVID-19) Protocol Directive, 2020 made by Prime Minister Mia Mottley on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.

“The COVID-19 Monitoring Unit has made repeated efforts to secure compliance to this order with little success.

“To this end, we are now informing all owners of public transport that as of Monday, November 16, 2020, any breach in these regulations will result in the immediate suspension of the vehicle, driver and conductor for a period of seven days,” the new measure outlined.

However, Best slammed the measure for applying strict liability and harsh penalties on owners for the conduct of drivers, conductors and passengers.

He also questioned why passengers were not being held responsible for their own actions.

“It will be extremely difficult for a driver who does not have conductors to keep his eyes on the road while still attempting to look back every five minutes to see if a passenger continues to wear his mask. So I am saying that in those circumstances, what is being suggested is extremely harsh,” Best contended.

“To penalise the owners who have not committed the infraction, to penalise the vehicle and the permit is extremely harsh. I could understand if you penalise the driver, conductor and the commuter, because everybody was informed of the protocols,” the APTO chairman added.

In fact, Best told Barbados TODAY he was still awaiting permission from transport officials to allow APTO members to place stickers on the vehicles informing passengers of the need to wear masks.

Under the current directive, PSVs are allowed to carry the usual number of seated passengers and half of their standing capacity and all persons onboard must wear face masks. Vehicles must also be sanitised when they arrive at their respective bus terminals.

Additionally, PSVs are required to travel with their windows open, except during inclement weather. Failure to comply could result in fines of $50 000, imprisonment of up to one year, or both.

Best complained, however, that in some instances, the measures imposed on PSVs varied from those imposed on Transport Board buses.

“As you are fully aware, the new electric buses are air-conditioned buses with no windows. So you’re sending mixed messages to the society that the Transport Board buses can do what they like, but the PSVs must open their windows and everything,” said Best.

“I think that it is discriminatory to ask one group of persons who are providing the same service to conform with one set of regulations, where the other group that is doing the same things is not.

I believe in prevention rather than cure and I am urging all players in the field to conform, but the penalties are extremely discriminatory,” the APTO chairman said.

Efforts to reach the head of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit Ronald Chapman were unsuccessful.

Best, meanwhile, indicated that APTO would be attempting to engage with authorities at the earliest opportunity to discuss the new measures.

(kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)