Public service vehicles (PSVs) and taxis will soon adopt a cashless payment system, set to be introduced in the coming weeks, the project’s technical coordinator Dwayne Roach said Monday.
The rollout, expected to last between three and six months, will mark the beginning of a new era for public transport, with the system initially involving a mobile app as the primary means of payment.
Roach told Barbados TODAY that the first phase of the implementation would involve two key aspects: system integration and a public sensitisation campaign.
“The first aspect is going to focus on mobile,” he explained. “Mobile penetration rates in Barbados are very high, so instead of introducing another card-based type solution, we decided to utilise the mobile phone as the primary medium of payment. So we built a mobile app called PayNGo; basically, a person will be able to download the app, then they will go to any of the conveniently located merchants around the country, and they will be able to load their funds from there.”
Roach said that passengers can use the app to pay for rides, whether it’s for one trip or a week’s worth of travel. Due to regulations in the highway code, PSV drivers are not permitted to operate their own apps, so payment validators will be installed on buses, allowing passengers to scan and board.
He also outlined plans for top-up outlets to be available at van stands across the country and at other frequently visited locations.
“Persons who do lotteries, top-ups, those types of operations already, we are looking to partner with those types of entities,” he said.
Supermarkets, gas stations, convenience stores, and even village shops are being considered as part of this partnership.
The first phase will involve four vans perroute, and the Trident ID card could also be integrated to ensure seniors and schoolchildren can tap and ride for free, in line with government mandates.
“We believe the first phase may also include the Trident ID card,” Roach said.
Chair of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), Roy Raphael, confirmed that preparations for the first phase are on track, with security concerns being a major driver of the shift to a cashless system.
“One of the things we realised… those persons who drive around visitors, a lot of them don’t have access to a cashless platform and some of them would lose a lot of income,” Raphael noted.
This was echoed by Anwar Nana, chairman of the Association of Public Transport Operators (APTO), who highlighted the benefits for workers’ safety and the potential for extended working hours.
“It makes it a safer ride, security-wise, for our workers… and it also takes the responsibility of the money to the owners now,” Nana said.
While acknowledging that the new system might impact the jobs of conductors, Raphael emphasised the intention to retrain staff for other roles in the sector, including technical positions.
An educational campaign is to be rolled out for commuters ahead of the official launch. shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb
