AOPT hopes new payment system makes PSV operators less of a target

Public transport stakeholders are in the final stages of rolling out a cashless system amid a worrying increase in robberies of PSV operators over the past two years.

Head of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael told Barbados TODAY commuters will have the option of not having to pay in cash, in a matter of weeks.

“We are in discussions right now with a firm out of the United States that is about to launch a pay app using a cashless system, and we will be rolling it out within the next two to three weeks via our taxis, but we also are going to test it on our minibuses as well,” he said.

“This will give our minibuses and ZRs a form of security.”

Raphael made the disclosure on the heels of recent incidents of violence against PSV operators, including last Friday when a ZR driver was robbed and assaulted near the Western Light Church of the Nazarene, while working his route.

The driver, identified as Sylvan Shepherd, was described as ‘quiet’ and ‘one of the best’ PSV drivers.

Raphael said although the situation has not been discussed extensively, operators have become victims of robberies and other attacks over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is really a concern to us. Within the last two years, we would have seen a slight increase in robberies against our operators. This was during the height of the COVID-19 situation where we had reports of either attempted robberies or even [killings] in some instances, because persons know PSV operators tend to carry large sums of money,” the AOPT chairman said.

“We have been examining ways in which we can safeguard operators, and right now the only thing we can see is a cashless system or encourage more operators to use fare boxes on the bigger units,” he added.

Raphael admitted that not all in the industry are on board with the initiative.

“The cashless system is split in terms of discussions among public service operators, owners, and drivers. Some people are for and some are against,” he said.

Raphael said efforts were being made to get the Transport Board to buy into the initiative as well.

“We also started discussions with the Transport Board and Government to have one app available, but we have not heard anything further on that,” he said.

Despite that, the AOPT head said, “rest assured that our members will now be given an opportunity where they will have the access to this app where people can swipe and ride”. shamarblunt@barbadostoday. bb