With the number of COVID-19 cases in sharp decline, public service vehicle (PSV) operators are pressing the authorities to allow them to transport more commuters.
As it currently obtains, PSVs are only allowed to carry 75 per cent of capacity under the COVID-19 restrictions.
But spokesman for the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), Mark Haynes, told Barbados TODAY once the number of cases continued to trend downward PSV owners are looking forward to a relaxation of the restrictions.
Speaking at the Barbados Labour Party’s three-year anniversary virtual conference on Sunday, Minister of Health Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Bostic revealed for the first time Barbados had reached its target of 25 cases per 100,000, following a positivity rate of 1.04 per cent during the past week.
Haynes said: “We hope that when Government gets back to easing restrictions that for the PSV sector the numbers will be increased. Of course, this is dependent on what is happening out there and we understand it in terms of if the numbers are kept down this would give Government the elbow room to permit the sector to move more commuters than what currently obtains.
“So we hope that the next time that Government meets or makes a declaration that the sector will revert to the 100 per cent threshold because this would have impacted significantly on the income of the operators out there in terms of commuting persons because they can’t carry a full complement and when that happens it puts pressure on the sector in terms of the money that operators will make on a daily basis.
“So with schools gradually reopening we hope that once all the protocols are being followed that Government will look at reverting to the 100 per cent. It does not mean that we will capture all persons but at least you know that you would be able to carry a full load instead of having a reduced capacity.”
Haynes, AOPT’s communications, information and marketing officer, praised PSV operators for adhering to the protocols under difficult circumstances. He said he was not aware of any situations where PSV operators were exceeding the stipulated capacity.
“I have no evidence to suggest the operators are not in conformity with what the law says because I think the operators are taking this very seriously, especially when our numbers were going up,” Haynes said.
“They are adhering to the protocols and what Government stipulates so there are no major issues out there in terms of carrying more than they should carry. You know they may have the odd person who may do something they should not do but for the most part, most of the operators are in conformity with what the law requires of us.” (randybennett@barbadostoday.bb)
