KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC):

A strike by minibus drivers left hundreds of commuters stranded yesterday and the main private sector body was seeking to mediate to bring an end to the dispute.

The National Omni Bus Association (NOBA) has been demanding a 31 per cent increase in bus fares, following the recent rise in the price of fuel, but the Government has objected to the increase.

NOBA public relations officer, Len Grant, said minibus operators were prepared to hold out longer despite having their own financial commitments even as the Chamber of Industry and Commerce was seeking to mediate in the matter. "NOBA continues to have well over 85 per cent support from minibus drivers and this is sufficient enough for us to hold out as long as it is necessary," Grant told the Caribbean Media Corporation.

Grant warned that a prolonged suspension of the public transportation system was likely to continue if government continued to refuse their demands for a hike in bus fares.

The recent increase in fuel prices resulted in the retail price per gallon for diesel moving from EC $9.25 to EC $9.50, while gasoline price per gallon at the pump jumped from EC $9.50 to $11. 50. (One US dollar = EC2.70)

The government had originally announced a proposed subsidy to cushion the cost of fuel for minibus operators by EC$2 per gallon for gasoline and EC$0.40 a gallon for diesel at the pump, but the NOBA said that bus drivers continue to operate at a loss.

Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves said that his government has offered to subsidise up to 286 gallons of diesel and 200 gallons of gasoline for each minibus operator per month so as to cushion the increases.

"I know NOBA is saying they are not accepting the subsidy and they want a price increase, but the policy of the government is for us to have a subsidy rather than a price increase, because I want to protect the poor and the working people," Gonsalves said.

Gonsalves, who also holds the portfolio as Energy, described the strike action by NOBA as being unfortunate as it deprived the public of their services.

"Of course this is a free and democratic country and NOBA is at liberty to withdraw its services, but their action does not pass the test of reasonableness. It is unreasonable, premature and they have insufficient consideration for the persons who depend on their services," Gonsalves said.

The Prime Minister, who is expected to leave the state today for New York, noted that his government does not have a fight with the minibus operators, but the policy of the government will remain to "cushion the effect of the poor and working people".

CMC/cj/pr/pk/06

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