The Government of Guyana has explicitly stated that it has neither approved nor sanctioned any increase in fares across all modes of public transportation, including minibuses, hire cars, speedboats, and airport taxis.
Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, who holds responsibility for the transport sector, strongly reiterated this position yesterday during a direct engagement with public transportation owners and operators at the Stabroek Market Square.
“?? ???? ???????? ℎ?? ???? ???????? ?? ?ℎ? ??????????, ?ℎ??ℎ?? ?? ?? ??? ??????????, ?????, ?????????, ?? ℎ??? ????. ?ℎ? ????? ?????? ?ℎ? ????. ?? ???????? ???????, ???????, ?ℎ???, ?? ?????? ?ℎ???? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????????? ?????,” ???????? ???ℎ??? ???ℎ??????. “????ℎ??????, ?? ?????? ℎ?? ?ℎ? ???ℎ????? ?? ??? ? ????????? ??? ?? ?ℎ??? ??ℎ???? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?????????? ?????. ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????????? ???? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ℎ?????????, ?????? ?? ???????????, ??? ??, ?? ?ℎ? ??????????, ???? ???? ???????? ??????.”
The high-level government panel also included Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues (who has oversight of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission); Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Captain Stephen Thomas; Traffic Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mahendra Singh; and representatives from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
The public meeting was organized in response to growing reports of arbitrary fare increases by operators. The open forum allowed commuters to share their experiences and gave operators a platform to voice their concerns.
Minister Rodrigues reminded commuters that public transportation is classified as a public utility, and passengers are legally protected against price gouging.
“? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?ℎ? ???????? ?? ?????????? ?? ????? ??ℎ?????, ????????? ????????? ??? ℎ??? ????. ?ℎ???????, ??? ??? ????? ? ?????? ????????? ???ℎ ?ℎ? ?????? ????????? ?????????? ?? ??? ??? ?ℎ????? ????? ?ℎ? ???????? ???? ?????????,” ???????? ????????? ?????????. “?? ????? ℎ??? ?????????? ?ℎ?? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ℎ???? ??????? ?? ???? ??????? ???? ?ℎ???????. ?ℎ?? ????????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ??? ???????? ???? ?????? ??????????.”
Both Ministers highlighted that the government has continuously implemented cushions—such as removing fuel taxes, absorbing shipping cost increases, and slashing duties on key commodities—specifically to shield citizens and operators from global inflationary pressures. The government has warned that non-compliance will carry severe consequences.
Captain Stephen Thomas of MARAD underscored that operating licenses are a privilege, not a right, and are tied directly to regulatory compliance and passenger safety.
He revealed that strict penalties are already being enforced following incidents over the past weekend where passengers were left stranded at the Parika and Bartica stellings due to operators refusing to work for standard fares.
“??? ?? ?? ????????????? ?????: ????????? ?ℎ? ??????????? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ℎ??? ?ℎ??? ???????? ????????? ?? ???????. ?ℎ??? ?? ? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ?????????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ?ℎ??? ??????, ?? ???-????????? ????????? ???? ?????? ?? ????????? ?ℎ????????,” ??????? ?ℎ???? ??????. “?? ℎ??? ??????? ???????? ?ℎ? ?????????? ?? ?ℎ? ????????? ?ℎ? ???? ?????????? ???????? ?ℎ?? ???????, ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ?ℎ??? ????????.”
While the Government maintains a strict stance against unauthorized fare hikes, it acknowledged the operational challenges raised by transport providers—specifically the rising and unregulated costs of vehicular spare parts. To address this, the government pledged to engage major importers and distributors of automotive parts to explore interventions that can lower overhead costs for operators.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Edghill issued a final directive;
??? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????—????????? ?????????, ?????, ??? ??????????—???? ??????????? ??????? ????? ???????? ???? ?????????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ?????????? ?? ???.
The Government of Guyana remains committed to ensuring an affordable, safe, and equitable public transportation system that protects the livelihoods of operators while robustly safeguarding the pockets of the Guyanese public.