Facing an already declining bottom-line, privately-owned public service vehicle (PSV) operators are growing increasingly wary about the effects new operating hours could have on their business as a result of new curfew measures.
Over the weekend, Government officials announced a 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew from January 2 to January 14, as result of a major spike in COVID-19 positive cases involving locals.
As a result, the Transport Board and PSV operators have indicated that their last service would be 8 p.m. Some PSV operators on some routes will finish even earlier.
Under normal circumstances, the last service for the Transport Board would be at midnight, while a handful of PSV operators would go a little later.
Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transportation (AOPT) Roy Raphael told Barbados TODAY while he understood the need for the curfew, some members were concerned that the shorter work hours would put more pressure on them to make adequate earnings on a given day.
He explained that this was due to them already having to compete with illegal operators and the expanded Transport Augmentation Programme (TAP).
“It has affected business tremendously. As you know that our last service leaves Bridgetown at 8 o’clock, and the two bank holidays, today and tomorrow, will have an effect on us. Also, the closure of the schools until after January 14, we can see that it will add to the issues that we have already as it relates to the additional TAP buses and pirates we have on the road,” he explained.
Raphael added: “We are seeing right now there is a significant decline in our ridership and I suspect we will have to attempt to meet with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance to see how best we can get an ease.”
Due to the curfew, the first service for ZRs and minibus operators is to begin around 5:30 a.m.
Raphael said while the cut-off time is 8 p.m., there were some routes that will have service cut off at least an hour earlier because it did not make sense to operate after a certain time.
As a result, he is urging commuters, especially those in the north of the island, to put alternative measures in place.
The PSV boss also raised concerns about the likelihood of the services of taxi operators being interrupted during the curfew hours although they were considered an essential service.
Raphael said based on what happened during the curfew last year where some taxi drivers were “stopped by policemen”, he was concerned that the same thing could happen again.
He explained that taxi operators should be allowed to transport passengers after the curfew period, especially in cases where people have finished work but may not be able to catch the last bus.
He suggested that “a special arrangement” be put in place to have taxi operators pick up essential workers and take them home.
“I am saying that there might be a time when we have to meet with the relevant authority to have that matter resolved because often they are stopped by the police. We want either a pass, a sticker, but something to indicate that these people can be called on when it comes to those essential workers who would have missed the [last] bus. We would provide a special service for them to get home,” he explained.
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)
