Barbados Underground has published an article, contributed by member “Inkwell”, which seeks to give an explaination for some of the behaviour exhibited by Barbados minibus and route taxi operators. You can read that article here.

We are just going to highlight a few points from that article and raise a few of our own.

1. The private owned buses have to pay significantly more in road tax although they carry less passengers.

Compare the chart above to the one below which shows the number of passengers these vehicles are permitted to carry.

2. Minibuses capable of carrying 41 passengers are restricted to carrying only 34 passenger despite their larger size.

3. The Transport Board is known to carry excess passengers but only the private owned buses are punished for this offense.

4. The Transport Board has to be subsidized because for years it has operated at a loss, but the private operators are expected to weather the same economic conditions without subsidy.

There are many more valid points that have been raised in the article, as well as some solutions so be sure to read the entire article at Barbados Underground. We however want to rasie a few point of our own, which we believe would make anyone mad.

We have noticed that PSV’s often fail inspection for the most stupid reasons, and that the reasons for failure often have no consistency, bringing into question what the law really is. A minibus can pass routine inspection with the windows tinted and then be pulled off the road without warning, and failed for the very tint which was present a feew weeks ago when it passed. It’s almost as if legislation is passed within a matter of weeks without the country knowing about it. Many Transport Board buses are driving around with pieces of the bumber missing but we hear of minibuses failing inspection because the mud-guards weren’t black. How does that contribute to road worthiness?

We just want to quickly look at some of the reason miibuses fail inspection and deemed not road-worthy.

Above: The artwork on the top spoiler would be considered NOT roadworthy.

Above: The red artwork on the bottom spoiler and under the lights would be seen as NOT road worthy.

Above: The “visers” on the windows to keep out the sun would be considered NOT road worthy.

Above: The blue tint on the back glass to keep out the sun might also be considered NOT road worthy.

Do the above illustrations contribute to road worthiness?

Is it the law that these things should not be used?

How come these things are overlooked in one inspection and not the next?

Is there is a rule book or other documentation available to PSV owners stating what is allowed and what is not?

These are questions we would like answered, because it is clear that if you disadvantage a group of people they will do whatever they see as necessary to survive.

Have we created the bad behaviour on our roads by forcing this sector to work in an unprofitable and unfair enviornment?