Drivers of West Side Bus Association park up to rest in a show of defiance

By Joyette Mills-Ward

Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - DRIVERS of buses plying the western route of St. Kitts had parked their vehicles from about 10 o’clock this morning in protest against objections of a proposed increase in fares.

Information reaching SKNVibes suggested that the West Side Bus Association was awaiting feedback from the Federal Government concerning a proposed increase in bus fares island-wide, based on the sky-rocketing cost of gasoline.

One bus driver said, “We are not striking, we are just parking up to take a rest.”

The drivers parked their buses, closed all doors and were assembled around the snow-cone vendor at the Ferry Terminal in heated discussions with irate customers, who were stuck in Basseterre because of their [drivers] unprecedented rest. 

It is felt by some persons that because there are more bus operators than ferry operators, greater expediency should have been shown by the government in dealing with the proposal put forward by the Bus Association.

Speaking to Dale Hughes, Vice President of the Bus Association, SKNVibes learnt that the drivers had expected to receive word on the proposal before the start of the day. However, a meeting was held this afternoon with Cabinet Members and the three Bus Associations in St. Kitts at Government Headquarters and all the drivers were not in agreement with the decision taken by the Federal Government.

A meeting with members of the Bus Associations is scheduled to be held this evening at the Cenotaph and SKNVibes will publish the outcome in a later posting.