PSV Ban : 11/8/2009
Mr. Jones, I really think that school children should be banned from riding on these PSVs and mini buses. The children engage in bad things on these vehicles and the operators do not speak to them. The police should be able to stop these buses and each time a student is foind on these buses the operator shoudlbe fined $500.00 for each offense. You have to take measures that would hit them in their pockets. They should also have their licenses suspended. You have got to turn around how these children conduct themselves. There is no discipline or good examples set in the homes of some of these students and guildy ones think that it is ok to carry out their bad behaviour wherever they go. You have to put a stop to the madness of these young sudents. Their main concern should be to get an education that would enable them to be good citizens.

PSV Ban : 11/8/2009
Mr. inister of Education, what do you expect from some of the operators of the PSVs. You know as well as I do that some of of them are school drop outs and they don't care about education or the students. They allow the kids to have sex on their buses and carry on in the worst way. Some of of these kids are bad, really bad. They need to be banned from the PSVs and mini buses. They are going to be sorry later in life when they have no education and cannot take of themselves or operate in the mainstream. That is why we have so many of them at Dodds today. It's a shame that these kids have a beautiful island and education is much more affordable that in some of the other islands and they are not taking advantage of the good opportunities that exist.

BAN OVERDUE : 11/8/2009
Pass the law,our youth is endangered, Mr Minister redeem yourself and save our youth.

NOt a good Idea : 11/7/2009
This is not a solution to the problem. I remember when we went to school we acted the same way on the bus as we did in the minivan. And there are many routes where the buses no longer drive that private minivans and minibuses drive. THis is not a solution to the problem.

Children??? : 11/7/2009
Who gives these children the money to pay for the alternate transportation? If the parents made lunch and snacks for their children, where would they get money to pay the fare. The parents have got to do their job as parents, and stop being their children's buddy. I hope I do not hear any more about the "poor black man", if they can pass up free transportation and pay to ride on these ZR's etc.

PSV Ban : 11/7/2009
Mr. Jones, I know you mean well but I don't think banning the children will address the problem. Why not make the owners vicariously liable for the actions of their drivers. Also, include a ban on the operation of the vehicle for an extended period of time if it is use for persistant violations. Punishing the drivers seems to be an excersize in futility as they are a dime a dozen, all with the 'hussle' mentality. the schools and the parents need to work on the behavior of the childern which also seems to be a losing battle.......

: 11/7/2009
I went to school in Barbados years ago and we had to use the transport board buses to get to school and any of us students misbehave there was no debate the bus driver would stop the bus and everyone had to get off no discussion. Then when you arrive home late from school you had to then explain to your parents/grandparents why you home late from school and why when the bus came up the hill no school children on the bus if the reverse happen and you get to school late the samething you in the headmaster's office explaining why you late for school. Just go to show things have change so much back then you had to face the headmaster who is going to contact your guardian, then you have to face the bus driver who is also going to complain to your guardian then when you get home court session begin yo have to start explaining yourself. The problem is that parents have lost control therefore everyone on the outside can complain but if the parents cannot instill discipline and respect what can you do.

PSV BAN : 11/7/2009
Minister do you really think that banning the schoolchildren fron the ZRs and mini buses is going to solve the problem. It really tell me that you haven't got a clue on what to do. These children and their disgusting behaviour will move on to the Buses and terrorise the other passengers. A lot of the problems are with the parents. They have a responsibility. These children did not become like this overnight. Deal with that. Let us admit it, the PSVs are a law unto themselves no one can do anything about that. The Government has burdened the taxpayers with the cost of free bus travel for school children and look what is still happening. interested and concerned

PSV BAN : 11/7/2009
Hmmn. Ban the children from the minibuses? Really now. Why can't we put the blame where it belongs? The parents!!!! If the parents were more responsible then we won't have all these problems. I am not saying that the minibus and zr operators don't encourage nonsense but a large portion belongs to the parents who refuse to train the children. Look at our schools. Many students refuse to come to school with basis items such as pens and pencils or even text books. In fact the favourite complaint is that the textbooks are too heavy. If we refuse to train and raise our children properly then we are failing them. When we take the children off the zr and the minibuses what will we achieve? We will simply be transfering the bad behaviour from one mode of transport to the other. They will still beat up the buses and cut up the seats. The difference is that tax payers like myself will have to dig deeper in our pockets to pay for the damage.

: 11/7/2009
This has been happening for over 15 years, day in and day out, a bus full of school children in a terrible accident is coming, and only then will everyone be saying "how did we let this go on for so long?" We will hear how many tickets the driver had pending, and wonder how the law let him continue to drive.. where are the police ? where are the MTW inspectors?

Zone school children : 11/7/2009
This futher supports the call for students to be zoned. I think it is time we got rid of the elitist system of placing children at schools based on results of the 11+ exam. Zoning children would address a number of issues including greatly reducing the number of them travelling on PSVs, and thereby easing traffic conditions on the roads. More children would also get to school on time in the mornings. I don't know how effective a ban on ZRs and minibuses would be because children have also been known to give plenty of trouble on the Transport Board buses as well...including jumping thru windows. If they ban children from the ZRs and minibuses then they'd have to make sure that the Transport Board buses are running regular enough to pick up the slack. Another thing I would be interested in knowing is who would be penalized if the ban is broken...the child, the child's parent, the driver, or the vehicle owner.

Action overdue : 11/7/2009
You are filled with lotta long talk and the school children and ZR drivers are enjoying it. When you challenge and backdown, you are considered weak. Take some action Mr Jones and show these nuisances that laughing sport days are over. Retired

Enough is Enough : 11/7/2009
We have reached the stage as a society where unfortunately the mini bus culture is what our young people seem to be holding in high esteem. If I am not mistaken the mini bus association has held seminars with the view of educating their drivers and operators. I am not sure how successful this has been as there is no scientific survey done to log data on changing attitudes among their folk. I believe that the bottom line has always been and still continue to be 'money'. The mentallity of the young drivers and conductors (some older folk too)is that there is nothing wrong with the type of music and how loud it is played. In most cases these 'men' take pleasure from how sexually explicit the young girls and boys conduct themselves in school uniform. They (drivers & conductors) would not want to change their view unless it hurts them in the pocket or cited by some legislation. There has to be a policy and mechanisms put in place where all parties know what they can and cannot do. It is unfortunate that at this stage in our development we have to be seen to be regulating how people behave. The time has come however when enough is enough.

Solution : 11/7/2009
the parents should be in charge of their children. they should be held accountable for their behavoir on their way to school. If free transportation is provided by government the wise parent should insist that it be used whenever possible.

Simple Solution : 11/7/2009
I like the direction the Minister is going in because it lets the ZR/Minibus owners know that their actions will have consequences. However, I don't think a ban is the best solution because the transport board does not have the capability at the moment to cope with all the additional students. A BETTER SOLUTION, would be that when a bus or ZR is found to have 10 or more violations BOTH the conductor and the driver are given a ticket. Once that driver or conductor has received 10 tickets or more they are no longer allowed to work as a driver or conductor on any form of public transport.If a driver is found still operating, then a heavy fine, $5000 or more is imposed. When a driver or conductor knows he can lose his job for good, you will quickly see a change in attitude. The problem isn't only the kids, it's the adults operating the vehicles that condone the behavior! Deal with the root of the problem first.

Stop Being Wishy Washy : 11/7/2009
Mr. Jones, what more evidence do you need of the type of behavior shown by these children, their tardiness in getting to school, the increased delinquency and more importantly, the continued hanging out in the bus stands? If you are going to take action then be decisive and stop being wishy-washy. Indecisiveness can be taken as a sign of weakness by these children and their parents. Insitute the ban or stop talking about it.

ban may be coming : 11/7/2009
Ban may be coming. So indecisive, These students are very positive about bad behaviour. The ZR drivers allow and encourage this Delinquency, They also have to be held responsible for whatever is taking place in these ZR. What about the Governing body who oversees these ZR? you mean to tell me they are asleep at the wheel, they just turn a blind eye? Fines and bans will hit these ZR owners where it hurts the most. If any bans are put in place it should be on ZR that allow this delinquency.The drivers should be banned from driving public service vehicles. Leave it to the students and owners. How long have they had things they way? Dear minister Jones you have to be more POSITIVE. DO SOMETHING NOW please. Who insure these guys anyway?

simple solution : 11/7/2009
No need for banning school children on the PSV,what is needed is the Goverment setting up a educational program for the ZR ,PSV drivers and conductors to educate themselves in ethics in form of politeness,hygiene,proper dress code,able to control their passengers,to obey the rules of the road and monitor the trouble student who pose danger to fellow passengers.This program should be made mandatory for all public vehicle drivers including the Goverment run Transport Board before they can obtain the right to drive or conduct a public vehicle,finally all schools in Barbados who students travel on public vehicles should designate a monitor who will report back to their school principal or school of any bad behavior while travelling on the bus.By implimenting these rules I'm quite sure there will be lots of improvments.

Still?? : 11/7/2009
Say what? We still waiting for the drivers, owners and school chrildren to improve in discipline? Hell will have ice first. Just saying...

Ban : 11/7/2009
Minibuses and ZRs that allow this behaviour should be ban from the road for a certain amount of time,the government need to take more action on the buses and ZR ban them not the children.

: 11/7/2009
Thought parents were crying out saying they couldn't afford the busfare, so the gov't made it free for them to ride on the transport buses. Where are they getting the money from to take the PSV's now? 246

Great Solution. : 11/7/2009
Great solution. Yet another law that cannot/nor will not be enforced.

WOW : 11/7/2009
Mr. Minister You are putting a Band Aid ona gunshot wound. What happens when they behave badly on the Transport Board bus? Are you going to stop them from catching the Government own buses. What happens when they go to Bridgetown and behave badly? Are you going to stop them from going to town? Barbados is slowly losing its youth and by doing that its future. When are we going to realize that there is a cultural shift in Barbados. Stop looking at the leaves and branches and try to find the root of the problem, before it is too late.