East Coast Demerara – Driver of the route 44 mini buses (Georgetown/Mahaica), this morning parked their buses at the Lusignan tarmac and refused to work, calling for an increase of $20 bus fare. According to the drivers, there has been an increase in gasoline and the cost move from $877 to over $1000. per a gallon.
Last week the Government through the Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon had signaled that there should not be an increase in bus fares at this time.
With the buses not working, persons living along the East Coast of Demerara this morning found it difficult to reach the city for work and some to transact business.
A few months ago, mini bus drivers in Georgetown staged a strike action calling for an increase in fares, but there action came to an end when President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo instructed works Minister Robeson Benn, to have large buses take home citizens who depend on public transportation, free of cost to them.
