Some public service vehicle (PSV) operators are not in agreement with the intention of the Alliance of Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) to have its members stop working certain routes after 6 p.m.
On Friday, AOPT chairman Roy Raphael said they had decided to implement these measures due to the significant rise in crime over the past few months. He said the aim was for this to be effective from August, adding that it was mainly for noncommercial routes.
However, some operators in the Constitution River Terminal and Cheapside Terminal yesterday said Raphael did not represent them and they had a duty to both the public, to get them home safely, and to earn money for their families.
“They have certain routes, like Market Hill, where people depend on PSVs late at night to get home,” said Roger Marshall. “I don’t have a specific time to stop, but I’m always vigilant, especially when I work by myself.”
Marshall admitted to being robbed once, though it was after he had finished working. He said the robbers did not get much as he made sure to offload all his paper money before dark.
Sheridan Carrington said robberies occurred in broad daylight as well, so it was a matter of being vigilant.
“This is a service we are offering to people, so as long as there are people on the road, we will work. Just going out on your gallery is a risk these days, just living is a risk,” he said.
Another Market Hill operator who declined to be identified, said he was an “old dog” with 25 years driving a PSV. He said a friend of his was killed in the terminal some years ago, so he was not scared.
“Any robber would have to make up in his mind who he will risk because I ain’t out here supporting my children for a man to just come and take away my earnings. There will be a confrontation,” he said.
Damian Walker said operators on the Airy Hill/Sugar Hill route often worked late, and shutting off early would leave people “vex”.
“The bus may or may not be on time. We are a country route and people rely on us, that cut-off thing needs to be for operators on short routes,” he said.
McNeil Maynard said he usually finished work on the Deacons/ Grazettes route around 8 p.m. He said he had people who depended on him working late, and he took precautions.
An operator named “Lawrence” also works Deacons and pledged to be on the road as long as he was needed, adding “crime is everywhere, you just have to be careful”. Others on the Wanstead route said 6 p.m. was when people were going home and there was money to be made.
One of the operators said he sometimes finished
work early to be with his children. He advised other operators to be always vigilant and not to start being careful only when the sun goes down.
Some routes, such as Cave Hill/ Lodge Hill, Rendezvous and Forde’s Road, register infrequent activity towards the evening, prompting operators to cut off early. However, some operators working those routes still did not agree with the Alliance.
Silver Hill was one of the commercial routes identified as exempt from the proposal. However, the Sunday Sun still spoke to operator Fred Corbin, who said he sometimes worked until 10 p.m., taking people home from work. He recalled a close call.
“One time a fellow tried me, but I was on my caution. I know the people on my route, and I look at people carefully. These days, ZR men have to be more careful than ever,” he said.
(CA)
