- A SUNDAY BUS SERVICE… IS LONG OVDERDUE !!!
I am not the only person clamoring for a Sunday bus service and on this occasion I am representing the nurses, police, security guards, Sunday worshippers, sea port and airport workers, hotel staff, supermarket workers and local tourists who all suffer from the lack of a Sunday bus service in SVG. And here I am appealing to the minibus association to seriously consider getting its members on board, and I hope they are reading !
For most Vincentians the only time available for them to visit relatives in another part of the country is on a weekend, but particularly on a Sunday. Others who wish to visit recreational parks or beaches, Sunday is also the most appropriate day. For church goers, the place of worship of their choice may not necessarily be in their own district, and what about those persons who want to visit relatives on a Sunday at the main hospital.
There are also times on a Sunday when a person becomes ill, not serious to warrant the service of an ambulance, but serious enough to warrant seeing a doctor, as most rural clinics are closed on weekends. Once there is a Sunday bus service and the public is aware of that service, it will be used. Now in other countries even nearby Barbados, there is a daily bus service ….
Sunday to Sunday … , but of course that is government operated, but the private bus owners there fall in line and provide a Sunday service as well.
Here in SVG there are Adventists and other Sabbath worshippers who do not operate their buses on a Saturday, so why can’t these persons operate their buses on a Sunday. Let me state here that seasonally, especially during the carnival season, buses do operate on a Sunday, this is also repeated during the Christmas Sunday shopping season, we thank our minibus operators for the service at those times, but it can be scaled down and operated sensibly at other/all times of the year.
The timing of bus service is important and on Sundays, because there are limited buses on the road, they can and should operate every hour or two hours depending on the area from/to which they operate to ensure they achieve maximum capacity. Once the public is aware of a Sunday bus service, they will fit in to that schedule.
Sometimes on a Sunday I wish I could splash under a water fall in one of our clean rivers and feel rejuvenated, or visit an acquaintance or relative in the country side, or attend a Sunday funeral or Christening but cannot do so unless you own a vehicle or can rely on a good relative or friend with a car who has some time to spare. Let us continue this conversation, especially on radio.
The Bequia Express and Admiralty transport companies have had the vision to provide a Sunday ferry service for many years now and it works, so why cant our minibus association get their members to follow suit, trust me in 95% + of all cases it will be a ‘win win’ for both commuters and those who operate this valuable service. Let’s get some ACTION NOW.
