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Government officially announces new bus fares
By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – COMMUTERS who utilise public transportation will have to now revisit their budgets to compensate for the increase in passenger bus fares which took effect 4:30 yesterday afternoon.
According to a post-Cabinet briefing issued yesterday, following “intense deliberations on the matter of bus fares” Cabinet agreed that a maximum of $0.75 increase be allowed “where a $1.00 increase had been proposed” on existing bus fares.
“Hence, effective 4:30 p.m. today Monday June 2, 2008, until further notice, the new passenger bus fares operating in the island of St. Kitts are as follows:
a. For all areas and distances for which $2.00 was charged, $2.50 will now be charged.
b. For all areas and distances for which $2.50 was charged, $3.00 will now be charged.
c. For all areas and distances for which $3.00 was charged, $3.50 will now be charged. However, for areas stretching from Newton Ground to Belle Vue, fares to and from Basseterre will now be $3.75.
“Children under 12 years are required to pay half these fares and passengers are also asked to observe the ‘Pay AS You Enter’ notice posted on passenger buses.”
The post-Cabinet statement informed that owing to the “rapidly increasing cost of fuel…government has had ongoing negotiations with the passenger bus associations in St. Kitts with a view towards reaching an equitable settlement on new fares for public transportation”. ~~Adz:Right~~
The statement further suggests that bus operators were asking for as much as a $5.00 increase “for the farthest distances”.
It was eventually proposed, however, that “except that for destinations between Tabernacle and Sandy Point travelling from Basseterre…all fares be increased by $0.50”.
A sub-committee of Cabinet met with the representatives of the various bus associations at about 3:15 yesterday afternoon to inform them of the decision taken by Cabinet and, as relayed by the post-Cabinet briefing, they were not at all pleased with the decision made.
“The bus operators expressed their disappointment in the decision taken and engaged ministers in an in-depth discussion, particularly outlining the extent to which their businesses have been affected by the spiraling cost of fuel.”
Government is expected to meet today to discuss the request of a $1.00 increase where the $0.75 increase has been applied.
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