AOPT complains about police reports

The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) has again expressed frustration at the police handling of PSV operators who attempt to operate from Fairchild Street after hours.

AOPT Chairman Roy Raphael explained on Friday that operators normally venture to the area after 6 p.m., to collect passengers because the Constitution River Terminal is closed, but they are often reported by police.

“As you know, the country has been reopened and there have been more activities happening and the fact remains that some operators realise the routes are very slow so they capitalise after 6 p.m. – particularly those persons who work on the Silver Sands, Silver Hill routes – and when these people go to the back of the bus terminal or over next to what is referred to as Vincy Town, they are reported by police officers.

“We are very concerned that our operators who want to take home passengers after a long day of working are being reported. So, we will be meeting with operators very shortly to discuss the issue,” Raphael said.

Some two years ago when the issue emerged, a temporary bus stop was erected on Fairchild Street where PSVs could load and offload passengers. However, Raphael argued that the bus stop compounds the problems, particularly when there are too many PSVs.

He said the issue is one of several the association intends to raise in discussions he is hoping will soon take place with new Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw.

“We will be looking forward to talks with the new Minister of Transport to discuss a number of issues that are still unresolved, including things like bad roads on some of our routes, particularly roads like Sugar Hill, and Claybury; the question of the high cost of gasoline; and the question of TAP [the Transport Augmentation Programme] because we also represent some members,” he said.

Meantime, Raphael reported that taxi operators who previously operated outside the Fairchild Street Terminal will soon have appropriate parking.

“We have started discussions with the BTII [Barbados Tourism Investment Inc.]  and Joy Ann Haigh on that matter and shortly we should see 12 spaces being allotted to those operators,” he disclosed.