By Tahna Weston
The Antigua and Barbuda Bus Association (ABBA) is lodging complaints over a persistent issue in which commuters, especially children, do not want to pay the full bus fare.
The Association held a meeting last week to address a number of concerns, according to Public Relations Officer (PRO) Earl Waldron, and this topic was one of many which featured prominently during the discussions.
Waldron, during an interview with the Daily OBSERVER, said based on regulations, children from two to 12-years pay a reduced fare by 50 cents of what is being charged for adults on all routes.
He said once a child attains the age of 13 years they are mandated to pay the full adult fare. The PRO also said that fares for children apply only until 7pm daily.
However, Waldron said young commuters have a tendency of paying “as they feel and how they feel on the buses” of which bus operators have been the victim of for years, but which has “just gotten worse.”
“So once a child enters a bus anything after 7 pm they are to pay the full bus fare. But it has been a real challenge for the operators and that was one of the things that came out in the meeting.
“The guys are tired of having to accept, it’s like a $2 bus situation where children of adult age put $2 in your hand and leave the bus and if you dare to ask them for the correct bus fare it becomes an argument…” Waldron said.
According to Waldron, there is no other existing business in Antigua and Barbuda in which individuals are allowed to determine how, when and what they pay.
He said when other businesses set prices consumers have to pay in order to obtain their goods. He is questioning why commuters feel they can treat bus operators differently.
“And the bus operators are asking that the public be aware that the bus fare for children applies only to a two-year-old to a 12-year-old. Once you become 13 you are to pay the full bus fare; and that was one of the big concerns that came out of the meeting,” Waldron reiterated.
The Bus Association is proposing that going forward, based on a proposal that has been put forward to the relevant government agency, that primary school children be allowed to pay a particular amount only when they are in uniform.
He said the uniform stipulation is important as some children do not look their age. Waldron added that secondary school students and young people attending college and Youth Skills do not fall under this new proposal.
“Because as you know, I am quite sure you would admit sometimes you come across a child and when you look at them they do not look 12 they look 15, but technically they are 12.
“But in this case where it is limited to children who are in primary school it’s easy for us to know who is to pay the full bus fare and who is not to pay the full bus fare. Also, the new proposal has in only in uniforms. So when you are not wearing uniform the primary school fare will not apply to you,” Waldron said.
He said bus operators are no longer prepared to deal with this situation as many have been the victims of ridicule when standing up for their rights.
