PSVs want to carry more passengers amid relaxed restrictions

Eyeing more business with the impending end of the national curfew on June 30 the head of the association of public service vehicle operators said Monday it’s time to ease the COVID-19 restriction on PSVs.

Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport Roy Raphael declared the reopening as “good news” on the back of reports from Minister of Health Lt. Col Jeffrey Bostic of falling COVID-19 cases and a stable positivity rate of less than one per cent.

Under current protocols, PSVs are only allowed to carry 75 per cent of capacity.

“We were a bit disappointed that the Prime Minister did not address the capacity moving from 75 per cent to 100 per cent,” Raphael told Barbados TODAY. “We made a suggestion publicly that we would like to go up to the 100 per cent in terms of standing capacity or at least 85 per cent.”

He suggested that operators are in a position to manage increased loads adding that all vehicles would be equipped to ensure the safety of passengers and the operators.

Raphael said: “We have suggested that all persons who want to go to that level should be able to carry hand dispensers with hand sanitiser on board. Of course, there is the wearing of masks and operators will use temperature guns.

“That should be enough to allow our capacity to go up because obviously as the country opens up more we expect an increase in the number of people travelling on our buses. So we want to be prepared.”

He also weighed in on Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s commitment that Government was prepared to put a cap on the Value Added Tax on fuel if oil prices continue to rise.

Noting that fuel was a significant cost factor for PSVs, he said any relief would be welcomed.

“We can take as much as $350 a day in those 48-seaters and as much as 175 with the average 14-seater,” he said. “So whatever little that we can get from the Ministry of Finance would be a great relief for this association.

President of the Bridgetown Port Co-op Taxi Society Ltd Adrian Bayley has also endorsed the proposed move. He told Barbados TODAY any effort by Government to help cushion prices at the pumps would be welcomed. (SD)