Private operators of public service vehicles (PSVs) are threatening to pull their buses from certain rural districts, citing dangerously poor road conditions. This comes as the state-owned Transport Board already faces criticism for major service disruptions on rural routes.
Roy Raphael, chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), told Barbados TODAY: “The roads are ridiculous. When my association members meet sometime next month, the issue of the roads will come up.”
Raphael specifically highlighted concerns about roads in the northern parish of St Lucy.
“Crab Hill is not a road suitable for our public service vehicles. We continue to get complaints from our commuters about the state of the roads at Crab Hill, St Lucy,” he said.
The AOPT head issued a stark warning to the government: “If they don’t do something to provide better roads at Crab Hill and at Bridge Field, we will have no choice but to take our service from those roads because we cannot continue with our high maintenance.”
Whilst acknowledging that the government had initiated a road repair programme, Raphael claimed it has since stalled. He appealed for urgent repairs to roads in Crab Hill, St Lucy; Bridgefield, St Thomas and Martins Bay, St John asserting these were necessary for PSV operators to “continue to provide a service to the people of Barbados”.
Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport Roy Raphael.
The threat of service withdrawal comes amidst broader transport woes. At a Parish Speaks town hall meeting in St Andrew on Wednesday, residents expressed growing frustration with severe service disruptions by the Transport Board, particularly in the rural parish. Prime Minister Mia Mottley and area MP Dr Romel Springer were present as constituents demanded urgent action from both the Transport Board and the government.
It emerged that the core issue is the Transport Board’s undersized fleet, which is unable to provide the required level of service across Barbados. This problem is exacerbated by operational challenges, including mechanical failures and logistical difficulties.
Raphael also raised concerns about an increase in unauthorised operators using commercial vehicles or “C” plates to run pirate PSV services on various routes. “We are warned that the “C” number plates are not supposed to be used that kind of way,” he said.
In a gesture of goodwill, Raphael gave an assurance to St Andrew residents that AOPT members are “ready and willing” to serve them, pending permission from the Transport Authority.
“If the Transport Authority will be willing to allow some of our units to be transferred to St Andrew, we are ready and willing to provide, and continue to provide assistance to the people of St Andrew where transportation is concerned,” he declared.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
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