PSV spokesman says operators should be given a chance

The COVID-19 Monitoring Unit has come under fire for its decision to pull 18 public service vehicles (PSVs) off the road for not observing the COVID-19 protocols.

Spokesman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Mark Haynes has described the action taken as “draconian and heavy-handed”.

The anti-virus watchdog’s chief Ronald Chapman revealed that the guilty PSVs were ordered not to run for the rest of the day on Wednesday after the unit observed that operators and commuters were not wearing masks.

But Haynes maintained that a warning should have been issued to the operators first and the owners should have been notified before any action was taken.

This development came even as public service vehicles’ representatives called for a relaxation of the mask-wearing protocol among passengers as a security measure after a driver was robbed by a masked man. They had sought support for asking passengers to lower their masks before entering the vehicle.

Haynes said: “I think it is only fair and reasonable that the driver and conductor once found to be in breach for at least the first time, that they should be given a warning of the infraction and simultaneously the owner should be informed. If subsequent to this they repeat the offence then only temporary action should be taken.

“Ordering the PSV off the road for a first offence appears to be too draconian or very high-handed by the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit. This is punitive and I therefore call on the management of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit to please consider my recommendation.”

But Haynes urged all operators and commuters to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

He said that the directives were put in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone.

Haynes said: “It is with deep regret that I learnt that some 18 PSVs were pulled off the road on Wednesday by officers of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit as a consequence of COVID-19 protocols that were breached.

“Once again, I implore all drivers, conductors and commuters to please adhere to the wearing of masks. We are in a new norm because this disease is highly contagious and the wearing of masks is to help mitigate its spread. This is primarily for everyone’s safety and it is imperative that everyone be in conformity with all of Government’s COVID-19 protocols.

“The workers in this sector must be disciplined and be of good behaviour and conduct themselves with the highest level of decorum. It is imperative that they must be order and discipline on the roads of Barbados. I make another impassioned plea to the workers not to bring the sector into public disrepute.

“Commuters who bluntly refuse to wear their mask as they are about to board all PSVs should be refused to enter the vehicles. Additionally on entering the vehicle they should be asked to remove their mask for adequate identification.”

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb