Mia’s bus fare ease

Commuters will be getting an ease when bus fares go up next month. Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mia Mottley last night announced that frequent users of the Transport Board would save between 30 and 50 cents once they purchased four categories of tickets.

“Instead of having discounts . . . [the Transport Board] would issue ten-trip tickets, 14-trip tickets, 20-trip tickets and 28-trip tickets. Now they will roll out this in the proper way but . . . the discounts will range from 30 cents to 50 cents per bus ride depending on how many you buy.

“So that instead of paying the equivalent of $3.50, you could pay as low as $3 per bus ride. That is what I meant last week when I said that discounts would be made available, but a lot of atmospheric noise conveniently forgot the reference to the discounts and marketing initiatives,” she said as she wrapped up debate on the Financial Statement And Budgetary Proposals in the House of Assembly on Monday night.

“I have been told, for example, that a ten-trip ticket will cost $32 [saving $3], a 14-trip ticket will cost $44, saving $5, the 20-trip ticket will cost $62, saving $8, and the 28-trip ticket, which would easily cover those who have to take two buses to work and two buses from [work], would come to $84 and will save $14. When you buy that 28-trip ticket, you are effectively purchasing a bus fare at $3 and not $3.50,” she said. (GBM)

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