In fact, backed by the Bahamas Omnibus Owners Association, the public service drivers are threatening to stage a strike in two weeks if the government does not rescind the decision that came into effect in July.
In the past, bus owners paid the $300.00 franchise fee for a fleet of three buses. But effective July 1, the fee was levied on each bus under the franchise.
On Tuesday, during a press conference at the Taxi Union headquarters on Nassau Street President of the Bahamas Omnibus Owners Association Nicholas Jacques said members of the association unanimously decided to issue the ultimatum at a specially called meeting.
“We agreed that either they [the government] publicly withdraw these increases and send us a copy in writing by the end of October 2003 or our buses will develop mechanical problems indefinitely,” Mr. Jacques said.
“In fact, many supporters of the PLP government suggested that we park our buses without giving the government an ultimatum or a warning because they never consulted us on this matter,” he claimed.
Mr. Jacques said the association has sent a letter to the Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys Hanna Martin concerning its disapproval, but has not received a response.
But Minister Hanna Martin told the Bahama Journal on Tuesday that she was not aware of the dispute.
Other angry bus drivers and owners of bus franchises questioned why tour and charter operators were not subject to the same fee changes.
The owner of Dawkins Bus Services, Eneas Dawkins believes that the government should deliver equal treatment.
“They raised our fee so high, but they have not touched the rest who are doing public transportation and we want to know why,” said Mr. Dawkins. “If they raise one then they should raise the other.”
“Why should they kill the poor bus owners?” he asked.
Mr. Dawkins owns more than 13 buses. But he says the high costs of franchise licenses and maintenance are hurting his business.
Owner and operator of Major’s Bus Service Louis Major agreed.
He explained that he owns six buses and has been in the business for more that 18 years.
“For the complete fleet that I have the price was normally $350.00 per year but now this time around, I understand that I have all of the prices to pay $150.00 for my business license, $25.00 for inspection, that’s a total of $1,800 come March,” said Mr. Major, complaining of the high fees.
Mr. Major pointed out that even though bus owners are given a discount rate when they are brining a new bus into the country, the increase in franchise fees would cancel out those gains.
“Right now this is one of the slowest months we’ve ever had in the industry,” he said. ” We hope things would pick up.”
If the government does not withdraw the fee increases, Mr. Major said bus owners would have to consider increasing bus fares.
In her 2003/2004 Budget Communication in June, Minster Hanna Martin announced the fee hikes.
Last month, the Road Traffic Authority chided jitney drivers for not complying with many of the Road Traffic laws as they applied to the renewal of their franchises.
According to Controller of the Road Traffic Department Brensil Rolle one of the board’s concerns was that 40 percent of the license plates that were issued were not being utilized.
There are more that 100 jitney franchise holders in New Providence.
By Yvette Rolle-Major, The Bahama Journal
