The cash-strapped Transport Board is 34 buses short of what it has determined should be the complement servicing commuters in Barbados. But it will have to do with what it currently has.
According to management, the board is not in a financial position at the moment to place the order for that new fleet.
“The proposal is for 34 buses when a loan arrangement has been finalised,” said Lynda Holder, the Transport Board’s manager for marketing and corporate communications.
She said the board had not received any documentation that indicated a loan had been approved to improve the fleet this year.
“As such, we are unable to place an order for buses,” Holder said, “. . . Buses take approximately nine months from order to receipt on island. This includes the manufacturing.”
While admitting that more than 125 buses were off the road, the Transport Board manager said they continued to do repairs but could not say when those buses would be back in service.
She was also unable to say whether any old buses would be taken out of service permanently.
“This is an ongoing process. A bus may be defective for an extended period because of a part required. But until all possible avenues have been explored we would not have that bus written off of our fleet listing.”
She said all routes of the Transport Board were affected by the shortfall in buses.
“The Transport Board is concerned about all of its routes as it relates to service provision. However, it is part of our operating strategy that we seek to provide services to the student population as a priority on a daily basis. We supply direct school services to all public secondary schools and a number of primary schools. As this section of our community is deemed as being very vulnerable, we seek to ensure that they are transported as a priority,” said Holder.
In addition, the Transport Board said it was satisfied with the work of Trinidadian consultant David Barthlomew, who was hired last year and remains in Barbados to aid with the transport service.
“The consultant’s role was to offer guidance based on his expertise, assist with the sourcing of parts and to analyse the departmental structure and functions with an aim of improving efficiencies. He has been fulfilling his mandate, in our opinion,” Holder said.
She also said morale at the state-owned entity should improve soon. Last Monday’s industrial action left commuters stranded for almost an entire day. (BA)
