The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force – RSVGPF said there has been no authorized increase in bus fares in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the RSVGPF said it is aware of the circulation of a document on social media with the caption – “St. Vincent and the Grenadines Authorized Mini Bus Fares as of June 1st, 2022”.
But the police said that the purported increase in bus fares is not authorized by the Transportation Board for which the Commissioner of Police is the Chairman.
The police, in the press release, reiterated that Section 3 (1) of the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act states: “there shall be an established body to be called the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Transportation Board consisting of the Commissioner of Police as Chairman, the Chief Engineer, and five other members appointed by the Governor-General.”
Subsection (2) of the legislation further states, “the Board shall act in an advisory capacity and shall advise the Governor-General on all matters appertaining to road transport and traffic, and in particular as to the following matters:
Transport, rates, fares, tolls, dues, or other charges.
The police release stated that the police wishes to, in the interest of clarity on the matter, that the purported increase in bus fares is not authorized by by the Transport Board.
Vintas member, Shane Williams told ANN that the document which was circulated on Social Media was discussed last Sunday at a meeting with about twenty-five(25) members. Williams said that the meeting agreed that members from all districts present at the meeting would discuss the proposal with their members, and come back at a later date to finalize the proposal to forward to the Government.
Williams also told ANN that he thought the police jump the gun with such a release because it was never an approved document.