Transportation Woes in North Leeward

Editor: Transportation continues to be a problem in this country. North Leeward is no exception when it comes to having difficulties travelling as a passenger. There are several difficulties in that constituency when it comes to transportation to and from North Leeward. There is an increase in the amount of persons who travel on a daily basis to Kingstown and other areas, amongst them is Buccament. With the increase in persons travelling, you would think that there would be an increase in available transportation. This however, is not the case. There are few vans that operate and most of the few vans only make one trip to and from Kingstown. Travelling in most cases [is]by small taxi’s. Now these taxi are limited with the amount they carry and there is not much available. Some of the taxis make one trip to and from Kingstown. Besides the fact that in most cases it is licensed to carry seven persons, due to the scarcity of available transportation most of the taxis carry more than they are licensed to carry. Added to that, each passenger besides being jammed, and are driven in most cases at a very fast rate, they are charged $10 per person.

Unfortunately, since there is hardly any vans available and transportation to and from Kingstown is scarce, most persons resort to travelling in taxis in order to reach home. Therefore, it is safe to say that in most cases, the fare to and from North Leeward is $10. This price is charge regardless where you boarded the taxi. It seems as though taxis control the transportation in North Leeward. It is time that there be some transportation bus system where there are large bus operating and more vans, which is under the control of Government or a private company. This will help minimize the problem of workers finding it difficult to get home after work and getting to work, and where persons may want to attend classes or involved in other curriculum activity, but at this moment can’t because of the unavailability of transportation to get home. With the increase in vans and big buses it will ease the pockets of many travellers since they would pay the regulated price of $7, or in some cases, $6 as against $10 and are receiving the same congested seating and fast speeding. So with the taxi you are paying a higher price for travelling but get no better treatment than travelling in a van.

Let us hope that for the passengers travelling this route we would see an improvement in transportation to get to our destination with much difficulty and be more comfortable gravelling. Also let us hope that there would be an improvement in terms of transportation being available even late and on weekends.

Kennard King