Some Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators are upset they have to complete mandatory certification training to stay on the road, lamenting that they were being forced to pay for the “bad apples” among them.
They said they had already undergone such training and if anything, it should be the ones now getting behind the wheel or new to conducting who should have to run that route.
However, some commuters are on board with the new directive outlined on Monday by Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw, who said the training sessions will start from October 1.
A number of PSV operators in the Constitution River Terminal in Bridgetown recently told a Nation team that the training was nothing new and wondered why they had to do it all over again.
“I did that training already. That would be good for the ones who just jump in but not for us. The driver in that video want sending home because he making we look bad, but I would object to doing that training again,” driver Winston Franklin said.
He was referring to the recent viral video depicting a PSV operator driving dangerously along Lower Collymore Rock, St Michael, by crossing over into the oncoming traffic lane to get ahead of another PSV. That driver has been suspended pending review.
“Mandy”, a conductress, said she too did a course at the Barbados Community College (BCC) and was certified.
“I feel that is more for the youngsters trying to get into the business. The old heads already know how to behave so I’m not sure if I would want to do it again. Look, the whole transport sector need cleaning up, not only us; there’s too much ‘unfairness’ going on,” she complained.
This commuter, who gave his name as “Smith”, said while training was a good thing in theory, he was unsure if PSV operators were going to take it to heart.
Driver Emmerson Marshall said training was for the youth.
“We old boys don’t want more training, we already got good habits. It’s just the young ones they give licences to at age 19 and 20 that cause problems. We need responsible people on PSVs. There’s nothing wrong with going to school but I’ve already been. Leave that for the younger ones,” he declared.
Marshall challenged the authorities to come out their offices and ride on a PSV to get a first-hand account of what was going on.
On Monday, Bradshaw pointed out that the training sessions, formulated by the Transport Authority and the BCC, were conceptualised to promote safe driving practices.
Recently, chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT) Roy Raphael – who was present at Monday’s meeting with Bradshaw – said training was conducted around 20 years ago but it was not a certification programme. However, he added, times had changed. “There were no certificates for that course and the one now will be a refresher because many things have changed since then.”
There was also a six-week BCC course in 2018 where Raphael was quoted as lamenting more taxi operators were taking advantage than PSV operators. When asked about this, he said that course was organised by a tourism entity but the upcoming one would feature different criteria.
The AOPT boss said he did not believe the course would only be in a classroom setting and it would not require a “university degree”, adding PSV owners would also be briefed as to their roles.
“While we support the measures, we hope commuters are involved in the regulations as some of the responsibility falls on them. One of the biggest headaches is commuters encouraging operators in wrongdoing. Overseas they use bus stops but here they want to be picked up and dropped off in front their homes,” he said.
Driver Idris Hackett said he too took part in the previous training but would do it again if he had to, but charged that “them done know the bad apples but won’t do nothing about them”.
A PSV owner/driver, who declined to be identified, agreed there were “bad apples” spoiling the bunch.
“When men do foolishness, report them and take away their licence. You can’t let bad apples come and upset the system. I got my certificate from BCC years ago so do I have to do it again? If so, then I will do it,” he said.
Commuters also had their say on the training initiative.
“Miss Brathwaite” welcomed the news, stressing that some operators behaved too badly.
“Not all drivers are bad but some do nonsense and when you speak to them, they curse the passengers. I’ve seen some of them do a lot of nonsense but if they want to kill me, put me off because they ain’t taking me to the Lord early,” she said, adding she told her children to get off any van being driven badly.
Another who only gave his name as “Smith” said while the training was a good idea, he was sceptical.
“Truthfully, the training may not make a difference because it’s all about getting money, so they may ignore the training when they get back on the road. One thing the authorities need to do is get rid of the pirates,” he suggested.
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