Government schedules Monday meeting with restive transport operators

The Ministry of Transport announced on Sunday evening that it had scheduled a meeting for Monday "in response to word that public transport operators are restive in relation to their longstanding demand for a fare increase."

Word had come earlier on Sunday of the planned strike action by some transport operators demanding an increase in fares from the government.

Representatives of the Transport Authority and groups representing public transport operators are expected to attend the meeting which will be addressed by the Minister of Finance & The Public Service Fayval Williams.

The meeting is to take place at the Transport Centre in Half-Way-Tree St.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz, in the press release, said the government was "sensitive to challenges facing members of the public who have been trying to cope with price adjustments caused by developments across the globe. We are also aware of and appreciate the concerns of public transport operators who have been expectant of a fare increase for some time now and are also now facing the burden of increased fuel costs. We also recognize that it is important that a balance be struck and a solution arrived at which does not have major negative consequences for our economy and wider society."