‘Low ridership; capacity limits crippling those in PSV sector’

The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) has taken discussion around an increase in bus fares off the table for now, but they are adamant that the sector is badly in need of assistance.

Both chairman of the association Roy Raphael and communications and marketing officer Mark Haynes made this point during a virtual meeting to discuss the impact of COVID-19 and transportation in the Caribbean hosted by the Regional Transport Association over the weekend.

In his contribution, Raphael painted a bleak picture of the sector with many members of the AOPT currently facing enormous difficulties due to the ongoing pandemic. But he made clear that an increase in bus fares in Barbados right now could create some issues across the board for the general travelling public. Bus fare was last increased in April 2019 when it went from $2 to $3.50 and $1.50 for children in school uniform.

Nonetheless, Raphael also pointed out that if the situation persists and their struggles become more compounded, this recourse and other options could very well have to be discussed and addressed by Government in order to safeguard the survival of the sector.

“It is a very difficult time for us as an association.  We are seeing a decline in the number of persons riding on our public service vehicles. A lot of school children are now in online classes, a lot of workers now are working at home so it is a significant drop back when it comes to the number of passengers travelling on our buses.

“Barbadians have over 10,000 permits, 800 of them are for public service vehicles. A number of our operators have fallen by the wayside because they can’t pay the bank. Some of them are in fear,  they look over their shoulder all the time to see if a bailiff will come to pick up their vehicle. So they are basically crying out. I suspect this could have been across the Caribbean, things are not as rosy as people think. . . We understand the impact of COVID. Having an increase in bus fares in Barbados right now could create some issues across the board for the general travelling public. I suspect Government will have to meet with us at some point in time for us to decide exactly where are we, going forward,” Raphael added.

On the other hand, Haynes is once more calling for the removal or reduction in the excise tax on petrol as a way to mitigate rising gas prices on the island. At the present rate of $3.95 per litre, Barbados remains among the top 15 highest gas prices in the entire world.

Haynes said that gas prices and Government’s mandate for buses to run at 75 per cent capacity  were putting many PSV operators who were already hit by high operating and maintenance costs in a stranglehold.

“The sector cannot continue with these high prices which are very astronomical, which have placed the sector under further stress and strain.  We hope that Government moves with alacrity to reduce the excise tax. I shall keep calling on Government to do it. Government can make that alteration. Remove the Excise Tax from gas products and if the Government of Barbados does that, that would help mitigate against the overall cost of petrol but it is not easy for us here in Barbados as I speak to you,” Haynes stressed to his regional counterparts.

He continued: “Even if I stand alone on this matter I shall not relent. It is imperative that this be done. Business cannot be as usual, business is not as usual because the COVID impact is so devastating that it has caused and it continues to cause many of our members to reel under this COVID pandemic. We are cognisant there are other sectors that require help but I can only speak for this sector. . . and I am going to insist, I am going to keep saying it morning noon and night that the Government must or should move with alacrity to remove or reduce the excise tax or the value added tax.

“If either of the two is removed, I am saying to you that that will give an ease at the pump. We have a situation where we have a decreased ridership and this decreased ridership continues to increase because the school children are off, most are online, and we are at 75 per cent capacity. This cannot continue… So against this backdrop, I cannot overemphasise that it is imperative that the Government of Barbados don’t only talk the talk, but walk the walk. This sector contributes to Barbados’ GDP [gross domestic product]. We move some 80 per cent of the travelling public and this sector is deserving of help, and help is needed very badly.”

Other participants at the meeting were from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St. Kitts/Nevis and St.Vincent and the Grenadines.
(KC)