Bus Drivers: “All Governments Wants Us To Fail”

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The Bahamas Unified Bus Drivers Union is sounding the alarm over what it calls the government’s neglect of the public transportation system, they’re slamming poor infrastructure and delayed fare increases. But Transport Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis says upgrades are on the way. 

CORVELL COLEBROOKE – GENERAL SECRETARY, UNIFIED BUS DRIVERS UNION

“ It seems like both political parties want the system to fail. “

Standing at one of the busiest bus stops in the capital, General Secretary of the unified bus drivers’ union, Corvell Colebrooke, says bus drivers are at their wits’ end. He’s calling out the government for what he describes as years of neglect in the public transport sector.

The lack of bus shelters and benches is just one of many problems plaguing the industry. 

Colebrooke says passengers are too often left waiting in the sweltering heat or heavy rain without proper facilities.

CORVELL COLEBROOKE – GENERAL SECRETARY, 

“ We are standing in the hot sun. It is us not reached the peak of the sun yet at 90, uh, 2 93 degrees. There’s presently no bus stop. No bus shelter. No benches for the people to, um, to sit down on and the wait they have to sit, um, stand underneath one of these buildings,”

According to Colebrooke, they’ve been waiting for a meeting with the transport minister for months, but he says it’s kept being put off.

Colebrooke says another area of concern is the poor road conditions and the high fuel prices. He says the industry continues to struggle, and now they’re calling for yet another fare increase. 

CORVELL COLEBROOKE – GENERAL SECRETARY, UNIFIED BUS DRIVERS UNION

“ It took from 2008 to 2024 just to get a little increase and that was not the deal. The deal was 25 cents in me. And at the end of the year, which is December, which will be in 2024, is supposed to be a further increase, and that not has not happened.”

We are asked for uniform change. It was agreed upon, but still that has not happened.”

Our news team reached out to Transport Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis about their concerns, she told us the government is not ignoring the issue, and says the allocation of the new budget fixes bus stops throughout the capital.

JOBETH COLBEY-DAVIS – MINISTER, TRANSPORT AND ENERGY

“ I note the concerns of the bus drivers and, uh, the Ministry of Energy and Transfer did secure a capital allocation. 250,000 in this fiscal budget to address bus stops because that has been a main concern even of ours, to make sure that they’re put in a better position. We recognize the need to renovate and upgrade those bus stops to, to Public transport “

COREVELLE COLEBROOK – GENERAL SECRETARY, UNIFIED BUS DRIVERS UNION

“ The system work, but the governments, because I’m not just talking about this, present , government, all of them have never put the proper, uh, mechanism in place for it to succeed.”