Open letter to Minister of Transport Devant Maharaj: I've often said that the only way to judge the efficiency (or lack thereof) of a service is to experience it for yourself. You or a senior official of PTSC would be well advised to conduct snap checks of the bus service from Chaguanas to Port-of-Spain.. Here's my son's experience when trying to get to school last week Wednesday: waited at the bus stop in Chaguanas for one and a quarter hours. Eventually got a UWI bus and had to pay double the $4 fare for the same route (strange that a UWI bus, servicing students, most of whom don't work, should cost more). Reached one hour late for class. On the return trip, from Mt Hope, he waited one hour and guess what? No bus. Eventually opted for a taxi. I fear he might still be out there now had he not done this.
He does this three days every week, and it's always the same story. Your bus service is failing, sir. I am well qualified to make this statement. Additionally, there's a bus depot on the Chaguanas Main Road, just before Caroni Savannah Road. Why was the service stopped from there? It was convenient for so many people to catch a bus from that location. If it's not practical to operate the bus from there, then how about offering a shuttle service to the bus stop every half hour. You would be greatly assisting the elderly, school children and the general public with this simple service.
Raf Maharaj
Via e-mail