OVER THE PAST SIX MONTHS, I have had discussions with various individuals who work on and use the services of ZRs and minibuses, in an attempt to be more rounded in my assessment of the industry.
I have also included my own experiences, and recognised and do admit that I haven’t been fair in my assessments or writings about public service vehicle (PSV) workers.
Next week I hope to give a fairer account of the PSV community and reveal how aspects of the system place them at a disadvantage and punish them unreasonably, especially for acts of kindness.
A friend gave me permission to share his experience and I will use it as a foundation to build on next week:
“For the last two days I had the privilege to drive a ZR and what I’ve seen is a group of men and women trying to make an honest living, working long hours with no benefits, no representation and little pay. Sure you have a few bad workers in the sector like any other sector, but I believe the good outweighs the bad, big time.
“I left home early to get a start; my kids were still sleeping and I didn’t have a chance to get a good breakfast. I worked 12 hours on the first day. I did what was right, stopping at bus stops, obeying traffic signs and so on. That day my conductor and I moved about 175 people and I got my first report. When I reached home that night, my kids were already asleep.
“On my second day I was a little more liberal in picking up and dropping off my passengers other than at the designated stops. I moved 275 people, worked 13 hours and got my second report. Why the big difference? Different conductors. The first conductor was a law-keeper doing what’s right and the second one . . . let’s just say he knows how to work it.
“It was then I opened my eyes to see a system, which creates an environment to break the law and then penalises you for breaking it. To start, many routes are overcrowded. There are too many ZRs on some routes and it’s on those routes you find the drivers breaking the law most. There are some places where people live or work and the bus stops are too far from where crowds of people want to get off.
“The Transport Board is in shambles, with lack of resources and good management, insufficient buses, but yet the minibuses are reported for overloading.
“Report No. 1 was for not stopping at a stop sign in the van stand. I had to laugh when the officer stopped me and asked why I didn’t acknowledge the sign, which is so far away from the exit, not to mention faded with no demarcation in the road to suggest it was a stop. After explaining to the mannerly officer that I never saw it and that it does not make sense having it there, I was politely reminded of the quota of reports he has to issue and he was just doing his job.
“Report No. 2 was for not having my PSV badge. This time I stopped, indicated and proceeded and was pulled over the same spot; different officer. I was asked to produce the van permit and my driver’s licence. I gave the officer the permit and told her the Licensing Authority did not give me a badge since the printer was not working and hasn’t been for over a year. Well, I guess she has a quota to meet too.
“Let’s do some quick maths. My first day I got 175 passengers at $2 each, which is $350. After taking out $250 for the van owner, I was left with $100 – $70 went to diesel and the rest to the conductor. Second day we moved 275 people, which equates to $550 – $250 for the owner which left us with $300. With $100 for diesel, $34 for lunch, it left us with $166 to split, giving us $83 per person.
“In this sector there is usually no NIS, no pension plans, no health insurance. Many of these guys work seven days a week, which has dire effects on their family life and health. I also learnt of the many who are imprisoned for not having the money to pay the fines after being victimised by a system created for you to fail.”
• Corey Worrell, a former Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, is director of C2J Foundation Inc., a project-based NGO focusing on social development. Email: coreyworrell@gmail.com