It is nothing new but videos posted to social media in recent days showing PSV operators driving recklessly on the roads reached a new level.
For as long as the blogmaster can remember bad behaviour displayed by actors in the PSV sector has gotten worse and worse. From the Tom Adams era when the approach taken was to tax the sector into oblivion to compensate government for damages caused to the current Mottley administration that promises ‘fools’ it will fix flawed legislation to equip the authorities to improve management of the sector.
This government in 2018 appointed – with fanfare – Ian Estwick to head the Barbados Transport Authority (BTA), however, after a brief tenure he rode off defeated back to the comfort of producing his Laff it Off show. It was not a good sign for waht was to come considering Estwick is said to be related to Prime Minister Mottley.
We forget the BTA was established nearly twenty years to bring order the transportation sector. However like the majority of government agencies in Barbados the BTA has become moribund. A mother of all ironies is to read about lawyer Michael Lashley successfully defending PSV operators because of loopholes in the legislation. Bear in mind he was responsible for enacting the same legislation when he served in the Cabinet of Barbados as Minster of Transport.
Here is a snippet from the BTA’a mandate:
Barbados Transport Authority website
- to undertake planning for the public transport system
- to monitor and regulate the public transport system
- to issue, cancel, suspend licenses of drivers and conductors of public service vehicles
- to issue, suspend or revoke permits in respect of public service vehicles
- to restrict the use of motor omnibuses, minibuses and route taxis to specified routes
- to regulate and restrict the number of motor omnibuses minibuses and route taxis on specified routes
- to supervise the conduct of business in the passenger terminals
- to publish current information on public transport services
- to establish timetables to be observed by drivers and conductors of motor omnibuses minibuses and route taxis
- to determine the siting of lay-by and the location of bus stops for the picking up and setting down of passengers using motor omnibuses, minibuses and route taxis
At a recent town hall meeting in St. Peter here is what beleaguered Minister of Transportation Deputy Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw had to say to concerns expressed about the rowdyism continuing to plague the PSV sector.
A script Barbadians have heard for over 40 years.
Successive governments and support entities like the Barbados Police Service, insurance companies, Barbados Licensing Authority, Barbados courts have conspired over the years to allow this sub culture to flourish. It is a culture that continues to penetrate mainstream society to the point there is increasing recklessness on the roads by private road users not to forget the negative influence it continues to have on our children.
Where do we go from here?
We have reached a point in Barbados where problem solving is elusive. The man on the street is aware of the corruption and politics associated with the PSV sector. It has been discussed too many times in this space. This is a bread and butter issue Parent Teacher Associations and other civic organizations should be championing at every opportunity to ensure a safe space for our children to develop.
To be continued…
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.