Bus services on the island have been an ‘age-old’ issue and with the matter posing daily problems for commuters with a regular shortage of buses at specific bus stops, there is need to upgrade these operational standards.
Consequently, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Stephenson King proposes introducing a major government-owned bus service to ply the primary roads, while other buses can transport persons within the wider communities.
He said though these proposals have not been fully endorsed, it is critical for government to take a serious look into the bus services provided in the country.
“The Caribbean Development Bank has conducted a study to look at the public transportation system in Grenada and Saint Lucia to be able to determine or to make a recommendation to government (on) how we proceed,” he told reporters at a media briefing on Monday.
While noting that Saint Lucia’s public transport system operates differently to other regional states like Barbados and Grenada, “ours is a ‘so-called’ public service transportation system that is operated by the private sector.”
Added King: “There is no doubt that we are not providing through the current system a reliable, dependable, scheduled service.”
To alleviate the situation, the minister said as soon as the report is presented to the government “we can then have some level of public consultation not only with the bus drivers, but also with the private sector, consumers (and other stakeholders) so that we can at least study the recommendations so that government can make a determination on the way forward.”
King feels there is need “to dissect the public transportation system” and to operate a “wholly-owned government service” on primary routes.
“That service will be (from) Gros Islet to Castries, Castries to West Coast, and East Coast. The communities can then connect into that primary road network service and provide to the smaller communities,” said the Transport Minister.
King feels larger buses would facilitate decongestion in the capital.
The minister said the congestion on the highroads presents an opportunity “for mass transportation”, while adding “the idea is to see how we can resolve the problems that we have at this time in the country.”