MINISTER OF TRANSPORT and Works Michael Lashley has not ruled out the possibility of offering diesel and other concessions to operators of public service vehicles (PSVs).
The staggering cost of diesel was a major lament when Lashley toured several bus terminals with representatives from his ministry, members of the Transport Authority and other stakeholders, starting with the River Bus Stand, yesterday morning.
“I’ve been trained in law, so I would hear the other side. I would not just operate on my side. Of course I would have to hear the view and lend whatever assistance I can or whatever,” he told reporters.
But while he said he would continue to give the PSV operators a hearing on diesel and other matters that affected them, he did not make a promise of change in any of the matters.
“The Government, of course, the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Finance, we would have to come up with something alternative. But as you know, given the state of our finances, we would have to really take a long look at it. But we are on the side of the PSV owners, they are an important part of the public transportation system and you do whatever is necessary to make sure that their livelihood is enhanced.”
Lashley had been critical of several aspects of the operation for some time and a few months ago announced his intention to clean up the sector through Operation Take Back. He said yesterday that the plan to eliminate the indiscipline and issues with pirate vehicles had already reaped some success in the last month.
“I think that we were able to catch four or five private vans and we’re going after them again. I want to protect the legitimate owners, persons who go up to the MTW [Ministry of Transport and Works], pay their just due, pay their fees [from] somebody [who] can just come out and take up a van, unlicensed, unregistered, run the same route, get the same money and cut into the revenues of those legitimate owners. So that is something that we’re doing. The second phase will be launched again.”
A plan has been approved for the construction of a new terminal to house Transport Board buses as well as PSVs. Lashley said it had been put out to tender, and that six or seven companies had already collected tender documents to express interest in construction. He said he expected to have word on that contract by September.
The estimated cost of the project, which will be done in three phases, is $25 million and it should be completed in five years.
When finished, the new facility would include kiosks, vending areas, a movie theatre, food court and modern facilities for both Government and privately-owned buses.
“I think that we owe it to them, not only the PSV owners but the travelling public. Out here is in a mess,” Lashley said.