Local News PSVs back restrictions but hope for relief Randy Bennett13/07/20210186 views “Disappointed but necessary.” That’s how communications, information and marketing officer of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), Mark Haynes feels about Government’s decision to keep public service vehicles (PSVs) at 75 per cent capacity. Just over a month ago, PSV owners called on Government to allow them to carry the maximum number of passengers following a relaxation in restrictions after a sustained decrease in new COVID-19 cases. Since the middle of March this year, PSVs have been restricted to carrying no more than 75 per cent of their passenger capacity. But yesterday, Minister of Health and Wellness Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic announced further restrictions, effective from Tuesday for two weeks, following an upsurge in cases. Haynes told Barbados TODAY that while owners and workers in the sector were saddened by the news, they supported the decision. “Given the upsurge in the numbers of COVID-19, it would present problems for all of us as citizens, so, therefore, we are almost back at square one which is very unfortunate. This is a setback for the sector. I do not think that it is anything punitive, it is being protective. So to this extent, I would have to support what the Minister has announced in an effort to mitigate against the further spread of COVID-19 which continues to plague the island,” he said. “Obviously, we have to hope that normality is restored in short order, thus allowing the sector to get back on its feet. The sector…finds itself in a very precarious situation where the finances are down, the ridership is down. “It is also challenged by the continued high petrol prices and we have miscellaneous costs, so to have this confronting us, this sets us back so we have to hope that when the next two weeks comes the figures go in a downward trajectory, thus allowing us to revert to the 100 per cent,” Haynes added. The AOPT spokesperson urged all PSV operators to conform to the new directives in an effort to protect themselves and commuters. (RB)