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Jitneys want fare rise to offset new limits

As of Tuesday, June 23, 2020

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Jitney drivers yesterday confirmed they are lobbying for a 60 percent increase in adult fares to compensate for bus capacity being slashed in half due to COVID-19 safety measures.

Harrison Moxey, the United Public Transportation Company’s (UPTC) president, told Tribune Business: "We are making a pitch to the Prime Minister for a bus fare increase. We are glad to be able to operate, and we can go back to work, but operating at 50 percent only further exacerbates the hardships and economic strain that we already have.

"We have endured two VAT increases and the introduction thereof. It is just a very hard situation for us. Moving forward, we are going to have another recurring cost to sanitise the vehicles and keep them operational and functioning, along with a loss in revenue. So we feel that an increase in the fare is now going to be necessary to complement the way going forward.”

The Prime Minister yesterday said passenger capacity on both private and public buses will be cut by 50 percent once the industry resumes operations on July 1. These measures are designed to combat the risk of COVID-19 infection spread by persons sitting next to each other, but reduced passenger volumes mean the jitney drivers are seeking to offset this through an increase in margins (fares).

Dr Hubert Minnis, in concluding the 2020-2021 Budget debate in the House of Assembly, said: “Private and public bus services may resume, with 50 percent occupancy based on guidelines in the Ministry of Tourism’s Bahamas tourism readiness and recovery plan, effective Wednesday, July 1.”

He added that public service drivers will also be held responsible for ensuring only persons wearing masks are permitted to board their vehicles, and that the social distancing is adhered to.

Mr Moxey, meanwhile, said the industry has already submitted its fare increase proposal to the Minnis Cabinet. He explained: “Our petition is to increase the adult fare to $2, and leave the senior citizens and school children at the same minimal fee.

"We want a permanent increase because we are affected on many fronts, and this COVID-19 shutdown just brought everything to light. This is just for adults. School children and senior citizens remain the same.”

The adult fare is currently $1.25 per journey, and he added: "To the passengers we understand that it is a hardship, but we have to deal with fuel and the operational costs in order for us to stay in business. So, we are going to be making that pitch. We understand that it impacts everybody, but we have endured the greater part of it and that’s what we’re up against right now.”

Comments

proudloudandfnm 3 years, 10 months ago

Now is the perfect time to disband jitney services and replace them with a responsible, safe system. Jitney drivers are pretty much all criminals, they are without a doubt the most dangerous drivers on the roads. We now have the perfect opportunity to get rid of them...

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thps 3 years, 10 months ago

Agreed. The underlying issue here is that we have a poor bus system.

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tribanon 3 years, 10 months ago

And corrupt politicians behind their cronies who get the Jitney licenses.

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bahamianson 3 years, 10 months ago

Jitneys, you deserve a 60% raise , and while we are at it, why not increase bread and all grocery items by $1 . you know what, Doctor"s officers should increase their fees by $100. Movie theaters should go up by $5. All government fees should go up by 50%. we all should go up because we all were closed down and didn't make any money. Good article.

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joeblow 3 years, 10 months ago

" ...but operating at 50 percent only further exacerbates the hardships and economic strain that we already have."

So making 50% more than zero is worse than making zero? I'm confused!

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thps 3 years, 10 months ago

It depends on their projections and they should show a chart justifying the request.

A business has fixed and variables. Fixed costs don't change whether they run or not. Variables costs does change while operating. There is a payback number which for them would equate to X passengers per trip.

So say the costs of burning gas and wear on your bus is more than the cost of only picking up 1/2 the customers. Its cheaper to keep your bus parked.

Again not saying this is the case with Jitneys but its the case with different businesses.

Hotels are a good example. Many of them arent opening until Fall or Winter because its cheaper now to stay closed and pay some bills than to bring back staff, put costs in motion for a few customers.

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bogart 3 years, 10 months ago

......and thds.....affects interactions with other businesses. Jitney owners have to repay loans at banks.....pays govt vehicle inspections and tax.....jitneys deal with mechanics...uses diesel on which Govt gets a chunk of taxes....and all other businesses operating have to operating at volumes to break even pay rent to premises owners ...and on and on....

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JokeyJack 3 years, 10 months ago

Hopefully govt will ensure that food lines remain functioning for those who cannot afford to buy food. That medicine is available free for those who qualify. Also help with rental payments. At the same time it is necessary to not make the same mistake as the U.S., which has made it better for their citizens to stay home than to go to work.

Being unemployed should cause a hardship - but not force people to sleep on the streets and go hungry.

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tribanon 3 years, 10 months ago

Many unemployed Bahamians may soon find themselves having to use bicycles to get around.

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xtreme2x 3 years, 10 months ago

Are they serious? That is the dumbest shit i hear for the week. If they get a raise because of covid-19, then every business need to get it also.Their customers also lost their job. So where are they going to get that extra they asking for.THEY NEED TO RE-NEGOCIATE THEIR CONTRACT WITH THE OWNERS.

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thps 3 years, 10 months ago

This highlights the bad system. The govt needs to take this opportunity to speed up the total revamping of the system.

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Sickened 3 years, 10 months ago

no doubt we will continue as normal with this jitney and taxi mafia. Once the jitney drivers get their raise the owners of the jitneys and the plates will increase their fees as well. In effect, this will only give the lazy, unethical government cronies more money. It is sad that every government is scared shitttless of upsetting a handful of plate owners while knowing that they will give dozens of true entrepreneurs the ability to make money owning and driving a jitney without the need to race each other. The path is obvious but our government will not take it.

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BONEFISH 3 years, 10 months ago

The island of New Providence desperately needs a unified public transportation system.There is no reason on this eighty square island,every body needs a car to get around.

Bermuda which is twenty two square miles has a unified public transportation system.The lack of a sensible public transportation system is affecting life on this island.Now the drivers want a fare increase.Will there service improve or will it be the same all chaos?

Like some one said,the COV19 pandemic has exposed how backward the Bahamas is in many regards.These problems have been kicked down the road for decades.The taxi service on this island also needs to be modernized.This leasing and sub-leasing of taxi plates needs to be stopped immediately.

Personally I don't think any change to the public transport system will happen in the immediate future,Too much political cronies benefit from this foolishness.

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