Task Force to address public transport, bus operators concerns
By Joyette Mills-Ward
Business Reporter- SKNVibes.com
 |
| Denrick Connor, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the West Line Bus Association |
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION directly related to bus operations are now being addressed by a Task Force established by the government in light of the continued increases in the cost of fuel on the world market.
In an exclusive interview, Denrick Connor, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the West Line Bus Association, told SKNVibes that the Task Force met last week Tuesday afternoon at Government Headquarters in order for the members and stakeholders to be familiarised with each other.
The stakeholders who were present included Junior Minister Nigel Carty; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works, Utilities, Transportation and Post, Oaklyn Peets; Calvin Edwards of Ministry of Finance; George Gilbert, Chairperson of the Transport Board; Edward Henry, President East Line Bus Association; Keithroy Isaac, representative of St. Peter’s Bus Association and Connor.
According the Connor, among the items tabled for discussion were: the increasing cost of petrol that is impacting on the cost of public transport as well as the profitability of operating in the bus business; the establishing of bus stops; the possible reorganising of existing bus terminals for more efficient use; and properly instituting the ‘pay as you enter’ procedure.
The Task Force also discussed a measure, whereby, as the cost of gasoline increases, what reasonable incremental adjustments could be made to existing bus fares so that the public could continue to travel at an affordable cost. ~~Adz:Right~~
In preparation for the next meeting, slated for June 24, Connor said, “Each Bus Association was asked to look carefully at each item that was placed on the table and to come up with a comprehensive set of proposals as to what direction we (Bus Associations’ members) would like to see these going into.”
Connor said the proposals should include things “what changes can be made to the existing bus terminals to promote their effective use, placement of bus stops in the Basseterre area in the first instance as a pilot project, and concessions.
He informed that further concessions could be made to bus owners to assist in the profitability of their business so that public transportation could be held at an affordable cost.
