Operators voice concerns over mandatory training

Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators on Tuesday voiced concerns about the government’s announcement of mandatory training and certification for drivers and conductors which are aimed at improving road safety and professionalism within the industry.

On Monday, Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw disclosed plans for the initiative, which is set to take effect in October. The move follows a series of stakeholder meetings and ongoing complaints about the conduct of some PSV drivers and conductors on the roads.

While the initiative is intended to address reckless behaviour in the sector, some PSV operators argue that the mandatory training is an overreaction to the actions of a few rogue drivers.

When Barbados TODAY visited bus terminals on Tuesday, many PSV drivers expressed frustration, claiming they had been adhering to the rules but now find themselves under increased scrutiny due to the behaviour of a few younger drivers.

One driver shared his discontent: “What I saying is that why everybody got to go back through training again that we did already . . . . Everybody gotta get penalise for one body? This is foolishness.”

The driver also raised concerns about the potential financial impact: “Everything does be a money thing, nothing ain’t free. That going be time away I got to take to go to the seminar. I got a family and they gonna charge you for that training.”

He suggested that instead of mandatory training for all, the government should impose stricter penalties on those who break the law.

“They should make an example first and then anybody else come, give more time. If they give he six months, when he do it again, give them 12 months – increase the time all the time,” he proposed.

Another veteran PSV operator, with over 20 years of experience, criticised the government for relaxing regulations in recent years.

He recalled a time when stricter laws were in place: “You couldn’t drive a van unless you were 25 and up, now men driving at 19 and 20. One time, people used to suspend your licence for three months and six months. I get my licence take away for six months for stopping to pick up passengers just cause it wasn’t a bus stop.”

He further claimed that repeat offenders were responsible for most of the issues in the industry. “Most of the things you see are from repeat offenders, certain set of people that do the same thing every day,” he said.

Another driver pointed to the influence of passengers, suggesting that their demands often encourage reckless driving.

“Is the passengers that does mek we who driving those van do certain things. We does do things to please the passengers. At the end of the day, we does get the bitter end of the stick,” he claimed.

At the Princess Alice Bus Terminal, some passengers supported the government’s decision. One passenger stressed the need for better discipline among PSV operators.

“They want wearing working clothes, working shoes pon dem foot, dem want looking proper out there. Dem need discipline pon the road,” she said, noting that most of the operators of Transport Augmentation Programme (TAP) vehicles generally displayed better behaviour compared to route taxi drivers.

An elderly passenger waiting for transportation agreed, saying the planned training programme was long overdue: “’Cause they were rowdy and ridiculous and really want controlling. I’m glad that the government has taken that approach now.”

However, not all passengers were in favour of the initiative. One elderly man dismissed the mandatory training as ineffective and called for tougher penalties for offenders.

“They need to go to prison, that’s what they need to do. They wasting time. They too disrespectful; a lot of passengers know that but they afraid to talk,” he asserted.

Announcing the mandatory training and certification for PSV drivers and conductors, Minister Bradshaw said there was a need to ensure that “everyone who operates a PSV understands the weight of responsibility they carry on our roads”.

“This isn’t just about implementing new rules—it’s about fundamentally changing the culture within the PSV industry. The safety of our citizens must always come first, and we will not hesitate to make the necessary changes to protect them,” Bradshaw said.

Officials of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport and the Association of Public Transport Owners welcomed the new initiatives on Monday, saying they were a step in the right direction.

louriannegraham@barbadostoday.bb