Despite free bridge crossings and some of the lowest fuel prices in the Caribbean, minibus and taxi operators across Guyana are quietly hiking fares — and the government says it’s time to talk.
Vice-President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo announced Thursday that meetings will be held with transportation operators to address what many see as an unjustified rise in costs to passengers. He acknowledged that drivers must make a living but pointed out that major cost-saving measures were put in place with the expectation that the savings would be passed on to commuters.
“We want people to have low fares, but we also want the taxis and drivers to do well,” Jagdeo said at his weekly press conference. “People used to say the tolls were the reason for high costs. The tolls are gone now, but fares haven’t changed. I think we need to talk about that.”
In Georgetown’s bustling downtown, passengers at bus parks say they are paying more than ever — and at the worst possible times. On the East Coast, the $160 morning fare from Melanie to Georgetown often jumps to $200 or more in the afternoon. Routes 31 and 32 from Parika and Patentia see night fares as high as $500.
At the Route 31 park near the Georgetown–Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling, commuters report waiting long in poor weather, only to find that drivers name their own price.
Private taxi fares have also climbed. In Melanie, the Roots Taxi Service now charges $300 for short drops — $100 more than before, but still cheaper than many “off-the-road” operators charging $500 to $600 per person. In Georgetown, short drops in some cases have doubled to $1,500, with drivers citing high spare parts and maintenance costs.
However, operators say that while fuel prices are low — $170 per litre for Super 95 gasoline and $190 for ultra-low sulphur diesel at GUYOIL — other expenses are not. From costly car parts to higher insurance premiums, drivers argue that they are absorbing expenses passengers don’t see.
Still, the Vice-President’s tone suggests that government expects operators to honour earlier promises to pass on toll and fuel savings to the public. Talks are expected in the coming weeks.
