Route 42 drivers call for fare increase

Police enforcement and passenger concerns keep tensions high

Tensions are mounting at the Georgetown–Timehri Bus Park as Route 42 drivers continue to push for a fare increase, arguing that the current $260 fare no longer covers rising operational costs.

The mini-bus operators staged a brief protest on October 6, citing high fuel prices, expensive vehicle maintenance, and other daily operational expenses as pressures that threaten their livelihoods.

Driver and father of eight, Eon Benjamin Norton, told Ignite News earlier today, “We hoping to see the bus fare be a better price. Either 4, 500, ’cause Parika is $600 and is the same distance. …Yuh can’t tek care ah yuh family properly, and yuh might ga put down the people bus because it can’t pay…The ga price, it aint mek sense because is the same thing when yuh deh in the link going up Timehri, is the same thing when you going in the line up Timehri, it aint mek sense, yuh burning out the same amount of gas.”

He added that he is awaiting a government decision and there are no further strikes planned for now.

Another driver, Mellon Thomas, echoed these concerns, warning that some mini-bus operators may be forced to suspend operations entirely if fares remain unchanged.

“The fare that we have been charging is fair enough. I mean, the parts, every time it going up, things is expensive, it aint dropping. Everything else raising and the fare aint raising,…so it’s hard fuh we be doing this all the time, yuh working fuh feed yuh family, yuh ga pay installments, yuh ga do all these things from this money. They feel when yuh come out here is a set of money we making, is nah a set of money. These parts on this bus hay, $8000, when yuh go back they raise $10000, so every time we go, the parts raising, so wuh we doing? We hoping that the govt could leh we at least make a standard fare fuh Timehri because if you calculate Kuru Kuru, all these place, is $400, the distance and suh is only a mile short. Parika to Timehri…Parika going fuh $500 so what happen with Timehri? We have been forgotten? All these years. Think about it.”

Theordore Harry, another driver, said, “We lookin’ for a $500…everybody holding out fuh duh…”

However, passengers and authorities are urging compliance with the official fare schedule.

The Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has stepped up enforcement of the 2018 fare structure, requiring all operators to display approved fare tables and adhere to the legally mandated charges.

Traffic Chief Mahendra Singh cautioned that offenders will face penalties if caught overcharging.

Passengers have voiced support for the enforcement campaign, particularly regarding late-night fares.

Ms. Victor, a commuter, said, “In the nights, when I come off from 7, $500 fuh go to Friendship…The government need to look into it because if there’s a problem in town…and Christmas time, worse, they will charge more…Some people can’t afford to go home…The fare is heavy.”

Under the current legal fare schedule, a full trip along the Georgetown–Timehri route costs $260, while shorter rides to Providence are $100.

Mini-bus operators who fail to display or comply with the approved fares risk fines and other enforcement measures.

Commuters are encouraged to report incidents of overcharging to the nearest police station, by calling 911, or through the Traffic Headquarters WhatsApp hotline at (592) 620-6713.