PSV associations call for cashless system to ensure safety of workers and passengers

The two organisations which represent public service vehicle (PSV) workers have condemned the recent attack and robbery of a driver which has left him fighting for his life.

Both the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) and the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO) have spoken out strongly in light of the incident which left 56-year-old Victor Walton hospitalized.

Walton, well known as Preacher Man of 2nd Avenue, Haynesville, St James, was shot twice in his head and robbed on Wednesday night along Husbands Road, St Lucy.

APTO chairman Kenneth Best told Barbados TODAY the news had left him distraught.

He contended that Government was “dragging its feet” on implementing a cashless system for PSVs which would create a safer environment for workers and commuters.

“We have been urging the Government going now more than three years to go to the cashless system and that means workers would be much safer because they would not be carrying any cash. We met and we had consultations and the Government is dragging its feet on this matter. I do not know if they are waiting for somebody to lose their life to then really decide to introduce the cashless system,” Best said.

“This is the only way that we can make workers feel safe to work at night and work longer hours to carry the commuters home because not only are the workers are at risk the commuters are at risk too because when somebody comes to commit a crime they do not pick and choose. I am very, very disturbed about the whole incident and I am urging the Government to please introduce the cashless system.”

Meanwhile, AOPT’s communications, information and marketing officer Mark Haynes described the incident as troubling.

He urged all PSV workers to be extremely vigilant with the Christmas season fast approaching, cautioning that criminals would be out in their numbers.

Haynes said there had been other incidences of robberies and assaults on PSV workers in recent weeks.

“This is not only, in my judgment an onslaught against the PSV sector, it is a societal problem with which all of us have got to deal. It underscores the point that workers in the sector have to be overly vigilant as practical as possible.

“What I think is going to happen is that it is going to force some workers to go home earlier for fear that if they were to work late they would be more targeted, although criminality takes place morning, noon and night. It is a problem that is very concerning for us and we are going to have to sit down to see what requisite mechanisms would have to be put in place in order to help mitigate against this kind of situation,” Haynes noted.

He said he hoped the perpetrators were found and dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

The victim’s sister Janelle Jordan said her brother was a nice person who did not trouble anyone.

She recalled that on Monday and Tuesday he was putting an engine in the vehicle.

Jordan questioned why the culprits had to shoot him in his head after they robbed him.

“My brother is quiet, even if you quarrel with him he ain’t gine even answer you. My brother doesn’t even have friends because I never see anyone come over to visit him or anything,” Jordan said.

She said he was not an outgoing person and liked to read the Bible and watch television.

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb