AOPT calls on Government to meet transportation stakeholders

By Rawle Toney

The Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) is urging the Barbados Government to engage with stakeholders in the public service vehicle sector to tackle numerous challenges faced by commuters and operators across the island.

At a press conference held at the Infinity on the Beach Hotel conference room on Saturday, the AOPT highlighted several key areas that they believe require attention from the Government. These include the need for additional bus stops, the establishment of new terminals outside of Bridgetown, and addressing the prevalent issue of potholes.

Craig Banfield, the association’s Director of Complaints and Legal Affairs, emphasised the increased engagement with members, particularly the public, citing a recent meeting in St Lucy where residents expressed concerns about  tbe lengthy commute of school children.

Banfield stressed the urgent need for more vehicles dedicated to transporting students, suggesting the allocation of additional tap permits to the association to utilise private vehicles during school terms.

“One such solution I’m going to give you to rectify this problem is that the government has issued tap permits and if we could get 15 to 20 tap permits available to the association, we’ll be able to use those tap permits on our private vehicles, we will have the complement whereby those buses will be earmarked specifically for during school term, to transport the kids to school and also on the way back home so they get home in a decent time frame,” Banfield said.

Banfield also raised concerns about other issues such as inappropriate music and uniform standards, attributing these issues to regulatory oversights.“They’re aware of all of these complaints. And what amazes me is that we as a country in the 21st century and a small country of 160 sq miles, cannot get this right.”

He underscored the association’s frustration with the persistent challenges faced by the transportation sector, regardless of the governing administration, saying “they cannot get it right. We as an association feel that we are in the trenches. And yet still we as an association to me, get sidelined in terms of what we figure are solutions to these problems.”

Banfield echoed the sentiments of AOPT’s president Roy Raphael, highlighting the increase in tourists utilising the public transportation system and the consequent rise in taxi fares.

Given Barbados’ heavy reliance on tourism, AOPT pointed to the imperative for the Government to engage with the association and other stakeholders.

They advocate for collaborative discussions to address the myriad problems and challenges faced by operators and commuters.

“Get it right. What do we have to do? Everybody knows what we have to do to get this transportation system correct, the implementation of policies and to make sure the enforcement part. I find that we do not like to enforce what it is that we implement, and that is a problem that Barbados has, not only in the transportation sector but also in other categories where our policies are made. And as a result, we need to take a stance and start with this transportation sector and get it right,” Banfield said.

Meanwhile, Raphael underscored AOPT’s concern regarding the pervasive pothole issue, affecting all road users, not just association members.

He reiterated the need for robust engagement between the Government and stakeholders, highlighting the necessity of establishing terminals in other districts to alleviate congestion in Bridgetown.

He stated that Bridgetown is at capacity, and the Government must address the congestion issue by expanding its infrastructure, using the Warrens district as an example since it demands attention due to its rapid growth,” Raphael said.

(RT)