Minister urges NOBA members to get registered

While he has no problem with the proposals made by the National Omnibus Association (NOBA), Minister of Transport, Senator Julian Francis is urging them to first get their house in order.{{more}}

NOBA, at a meeting at the Arnos Vale hard court on Sunday, May 26, proposed duty free concessions on Hankook tyres, and discussed, among other things, omnibus operations and traffic offences.

The meeting, which had about 80 persons in attendance, was also attended by head of the traffic department Superintendent Kenneth John and Commissioner of Police Michael Charles.

In response to the proposals put forward by president of NOBA Anthony “Code Red” Bacchus, Francis said while he would be able to address the subject matters, he was not in a position to address the proposals, since some of them are matters that would have to go before Cabinet.

According to Francis, the proposals which were presented to him are being regurgitated.

He said in 2003, when they had consultations with the NOBA on public transport, he also spoke about getting NOBA organized.

“Fishermen are all registered. Every boat that runs has a number with the Ministry of Fisheries. Farmers are all registered. They get duty concessions on engines and vehicles, because there is evidence that they are farmers and fishermen,” Francis said.

He noted that he has figures from the traffic department from 2004, which stated that there were 1,226 buses in operation here – with 218 on the Leeward side, 907 on the Windward side, 50 in Kingstown and the suburbs and 51 in the Grenadines.

However, NOBA’s president indicated at the meeting that at present, approximately 500 buses operate here.

“If you are telling me that you have 500 minibuses running now, then there are a lot of vehicles out there with H number plates that are minibuses, according to the law. A persons buys a van, he puts an H on it as his personal transport. You get duty free on Hankook tyres; he can get duty free too because he is registered as H. How do you identify a bona fide registered minibus operator? You have to get yourself organized,” Francis stressed.

Francis suggested that out of the meeting, a committee be formed.

“I can’t take right now to the Cabinet a proposal for duty free on tyres… When the proposal came with a specific brand of tyre, it can’t work…. I believe you are going to have problems with that. If we are going to have concessions for tyres for minibus men, I am not against the idea, but we have to have it organized,” Francis said.

The Transport Minister also suggested that they also have a general meeting of the association and elect an executive.

“I want this organization to move to the level of having every bona fide minibus operator to be a member of NOBA. It is the only way it could work… If you organized and become a forceful unit, every person will want to become a member of your organization; but right now, you are not organized, so they don’t want to get with you,” Francis added.

However, Bacchus believes that NOBA is organized.

“This is to show and prove to the government that we are organized. So they could give some concern in helping us,” Bacchus stated.

While they were granted a passenger fare increase by the Government in August 2011, Bacchus said vehicle parts have increased over the years.

“It is coming like we spinning top in mud. We need some help from the Government. We can’t put any pressure on the travelling public, but we just want the Government to recognize our need and give us some assistance in getting what we need,” he added.(KW)