Proposals to introduce dedicated transport services for schoolchildren across the island remain stalled ahead of the new academic term.
Mark Haynes, chief executive officer responsible for communications and public education within the Alliance Owners of Public Transport, said that despite preliminary talks that began months ago with transport and education authorities, there is still no final report or clear plan.
The aim is to create a special fleet of buses just for students, which industry leaders believe will improve supervision, encourage good behaviour and protect the reputation of local schools.
”We began those talks months ago,” Haynes told Barbados TODAY. “They were looking at the question of having designated buses for schoolchildren so you can have a more disciplined approach where children will be then – buses will be designated for children exclusively. But the thoughts are in train, and there’s nothing conclusive at this point. We regret to announce this, but we hope that as the semester starts, we will hear something from the government in relation to this as we move forward.”
Student behaviour on public transport has often caused tension between operators, school staff and other commuters. Reports of rowdy behaviour, vandalism and general indiscipline on regular public service vehicles have frequently drawn public criticism. Transport officials view dedicated buses not merely as a convenience, but as an essential tool to restructure the morning and afternoon school commutes.
”We accepted the initiative because we thought it’s a very good initiative on which to embark,” Haynes explained, highlighting the potential benefits of the proposed system.
“If that happens, it means that the children will be more organised and disciplined if they’re catching the designated buses and so on. We have a situation where we are told they go out and behave badly and then give the schools a bad name and their reputation as well.”
To move things forward, representatives from the PSV sector are actively seeking a formal meeting with Minister of Education Transformation Chad Blackman. They want to share their views, explain the transport problems students face and agree on a clear plan for the proposal.
”We are looking forward to meeting with him so he gets an understanding as to where we are and what we want to do to move forward,” Haynes said. “We are looking after the children as well in the system. We just want the best for all the nation’s children, and we will do anything as a PSV sector to ensure this happens.”
While acknowledging that public perception of the PSV sector is sometimes marred by reports of poor driver or commuter behaviour, Haynes stressed that industry leadership remains fully committed to student safety and regulatory compliance. He urged government officials to prioritise the negotiations and avoid administrative delays that could compromise the success of the upcoming school term.
”When we start the talks, we want things to be expedited,” he said. “Barbados suffers from an implementation deficit, and we do not want to get trapped in this because our nation’s children and their education are important. The delay is wasting time and things get worse.”
Even though the situation is urgent, the sector has chosen not to set any deadlines for starting the dedicated service. Transport leaders say that announcing dates without an agreement from the ministry would only confuse parents and school staff.
(RR)
