PSV ban may be coming

SCHOOLCHILDREN could be legally banned from travelling on Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) if they don't curb their bad behaviour.

The warning came yesterday from Minister of Education Ronald Jones who indicated that Government was reluctant to go the banning route but would take it if there was not better conduct on the privately owned vehicles.

"We are looking to see if we have to enact legislation to completely ban students from travelling on those ZRs and minibuses.

"It is a step that we would not want to take but in circumstances where there is no major reduction in levels of bad behaviour . . . the state still has a responsibility. It is part of the law and order mentality that must be present in any democracy."

The minister said: "We have to ensure that the foundation on which our young people stand is solid so that they can catapult themselves through learning.

"But if you find that there is a perversion present in their environment, some will be attracted to it and where a culture as it is called, a ZR or minibus culture affects the stability of that foundation, then one has to deal with it forcibly."

Jones made the comments to reporters after the presentation of a spanking new bus to The St Michael School by the school's Parent-Teacher Association.

"My appeal to the students of Barbados would be that, yes, right now you can use the ZR and the minibus or any form of public transport to get to your school but where you lag and get involved in indiscipline and violence, where you listen to loud music that disrupts your learning . . . then we will have to take action," Jones said.

"It is left up to the students, owners and the drivers of PSVs . . . if we can see a major leap in discipline as we move towards the end of this term, we will not have to proceed to legislation, but if not, then we will," Jones said.

Recently Minister of Transport and Works John Boyce expressed concern about an online video showing bad behaviour by schoolchildren on a PSV. (PA)