Minibus operators offered incentive to provide late night service

Operators of minibuses who are willing to provide a late night service to commuters have been offered the incentive of a 100 per cent waiver on import duties.

The establishment of a specialised bus service to meet the needs of late night commuters was announced last Sunday by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves as he addressed the Unity Labour Party (ULP) South Leeward Constituency Conference.

“… Anyone here who wants a minibus; an 18-seater, a 26-seater; you want to run it after 5:00 o’clock in the evening, you will get a specialized plate for it, and through the night into the early morning; a structured service, we will give you 100 per cent duty free concession,” Gonsalves told the gathering.

He explained that Cabinet took the decision to provide the incentive “because there are too many hotel workers who want to get home; too many nurses, too many people who work in the restaurants and the bars, and they cannot get a ride.”

The Prime Minister said these minibuses would operate as part of a structured transportation system and will not be able to operate during the day time hours, except if they are carrying cruise ship passengers or operating tours for groups of persons, including students.

“In order to encourage that, we are giving you 100 per cent duty free concessions,” Gonsalves repeated.

Operators will be required to attend classes on business management, defensive driving, customer service, and other pertinent subject areas, Gonsalves said, “in order to be properly accredited…it is a new era.”