By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
Uniformed and salaried jitney drivers will be among the changes under a unified busing system, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, adding that the “refinement” of a corporate earnings structure was being developed in parallel to a pilot project that will act as the prototype.
“We formed a steering committee with stakeholders such as the bus owners, and agencies such as the Ministry of Finance and the Road Traffic Department,” said Glenys Hanna Martin, minister of transport and aviation.
“We brought in the consultant under the IDB grant process. I met with them last Friday and what they are doing now is they are reviewing a new route, and assigning buses to that route, which would include things like fare boxes and all of the sort of physical components that you would expect in a new system.”
The proposed unification of the public bus system is part of the New Providence Road Improvement Programme (NPRIP), funded by the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), which also involved the upgrading of New Providence’s road network.
Mrs Hanna Martin added: “The pilot route will be like a prototype of what we expect the roll-out to be like, which includes things like fare boxes and uniformed, salaried bus drivers; not people hustling for a dollar like we have now.
“A driver would be a salaried employee. They are going to monitor the route but, on a parallel basis, we will be moving toward the refinement of what we hope to be the ultimate corporate earning structure and roll-out. We are doing the pilot project to test the components of what we would like the system to look like and, on a parallel basis, preparing for the complete roll-out.”
The Government is aiming to kick-start a decade-long effort to unify New Providence’s jitney system with a $530,000 pilot project to demonstrate how the scheme will work, in an effort to boost the island’s “economic efficiency and sustainability”.
The project, which is being financed by $500,000 from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), is an attempt to encourage jitney operators and franchise holders to take the next step towards reform, and overcome what appears to be entrenched stakeholder resistance.
According to the IDB, around 280 buses serve the Bahamian people on 23 different routes.
Comments
Sickened 7 years, 5 months ago
OMG! Is a logical public transportation system really coming????
Socrates 7 years, 5 months ago
this isn't rocket science. you tell them all franchises will expire 31 December 2017 and a single bus company comes into being 01 Jan 2018. you see any shitty hustling bus services in Miami, NY, London or any other worthwhile place? same thing for taxis. this every man owning his own car is BS. we need to get our act together in this country and stop this rush to the lowest possible standard for everything...
banker 7 years, 5 months ago
Reuben Rhaming and PTAB had uniformed bus drivers, an interconnected radio system, an electronic fare card, modern jitneys and a truly functioning scheduling, non-poach system, a fuel cooperative, and all he got for his troubles was a slap on the face and a huge loss of money, In addition he was put out of business by the government cronies and corruption in the road traffic department. What is not generally known, is that the police own jitneys on the side, and their corruption is one of the reasons that any attempts to reform and organise the transportation system fails.
Mr. Rahming is an outstanding Bahamian, a preacher in his church, a proud Fox Hillian, a community organiser, a model for youth, a patriot, and an entrepreneur and all he gets is to tote cut hip financially for trying to improve his country. A Bahamian in his own country is put down, not recognised and if he is not corrupt, all of his efforts come to naught.
If you see something wrong in this country that is not being fixed, it is because PLP cronies are benefiting from the messed up situation.
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