Public Service Union (PSU) President Dean Flowers says the Minister and Chief Executive Officer of Transportation should not promote the National Bus Company (NBC) while other bus operators compete in the same industry.
“It should not be that the minister or the CEO is on the media serving as a promoter and, in some cases, as a manager of the National Bus Company,” Flowers said.
Flowers argued that the minister and CEO are part of the regulatory structure because the minister appoints the Transport Board and the ministry’s CEO answers to the minister.
“The regulator is the Transport Board. The Transport Board is appointed by the minister, and the CEO answers to the minister,” Flowers said. “It doesn’t matter how they want to twist and turn it.”
Flowers said the minister, CEO and Transport Board should establish rules to ensure all bus operators are treated equally and held to the same standards.
He argued that government support, including tax exemptions, terminal access and permit decisions, could give the NBC an unfair advantage over other operators.
“Our regulator, which includes the minister and the CEO, that favours one competitor through promotion and lobbying of exemptions, terminal access, and permit decisions cannot be seen as being fair to the others,” Flowers said.
He said the proposed legislation should be amended to ensure all operators can benefit and suggested that the roles of the minister and CEO should be clearly defined.
PSU Says Transport Bill Favours NBC Over Independent Operators
