Transport Minister Stephenson King has suggested introducing a government-owned bus service on primary roads, with other buses connecting to various communities.
“I think we need to put on the primary road network larger buses, and if I follow my mind, buses operated by a wholly-owned government service,” the former Prime Minister told reporters Monday.
“That service will be, one, Gros Islet to Castries, Castries, West Coast, East Coast. The communities can then connect into that primary road network service,” the Transport Minister explained.
He felt the proposed larger buses would facilitate decongestion in the capital.
“When you put in, say a 60-seater, you know how many buses you’re pulling off the road? Four buses,” King observed.
However, he stated that those four buses would now be able to operate at the community level.
King emphasised that those were merely ideas and did not represent government decisions.
The National Council on Public Transportation (NCOPT), contacted for a response to the Minister’s suggestion, promised to issue a statement on Tuesday.
The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has conducted a public transportation study in Grenada and Saint Lucia.
King told reporters the report would be the subject of public consultations involving multiple stakeholders, including the minibus, private, and public sectors.
Smh…why is he a minister again? Who is this stupid man. Is Saint Lucia a large country like Jamaica or Trinidad? Instead you focus on trying to get the pot holes fixed you are talking about large buses? No wonder Pierre regrets you. You and Richard know how to save your constituency votes but you that teletubby only care about the one job you will ever know. This is your last ever job as a politician. Mark my word!
To be as efficient as other government run services? Lol.
Just operating in local communities may not generate enough income for the individual bus operators.
I’ve always said, a public service should never be wholly operated by private individuals. There needs to finally be consistency in operational service, quality of vehicle and a structured time of operation.
St lucians wake up we are in big trouble.st lucians we need to pray.we need to know only God can save our st lucia.slp is destroying st lucia putting st lucia flat down plat again. We did not understand this slogan but the meaning is there we are seeing it now so we need to pray and pray the devils and their agents out.only God can save us.
Monchy Bus drivers, I hear CCC looking for side road cleaners…
We do not want King Cobra involved in anymore major projects in this country. He failed to give us St. Jude’s, he failed to maintain the roads, he failed with WASCO and the dam. He failed us all. Saint Lucia has an 80% chance of being impacted by a storm every 3 year anniversary, we do not want this man managing any disaster recovery in the future. Get him out.
All well and good to suggest this service … BUT … who will maintain these buses. Government already has a terrible maintenance history. ALL governments!!
In the early ’60’s there was a government run transportation system, but it died, due to lack of vehicular maintenance.
Sorry King, but I’m not buying this “loose” suggestion. To implement such a service, an efficient timetable would need to be established, as well as vehicular maintenance – very expensive!!
That’s a great idea!!!!
Hopefully it materialises.
My only issue, will the vehicles be properly maintained?
Mom, SLP is not the government that borrowed 863 million dollars and cannot be accounted for. They are not the one who gave away 7.3 million dollars for no vaccine, they are not the one who gave away 1 000 acres of land at a dollar per acre, they are not the one who sold passports and we don’t know the quantity. So Mom, UWP is the one who put us flat down.
@ JA but its the UWP that give your mom employment to grow you this big and in turn you are talking trash.
Well well more families with no income / more guns more crime and we all can do the math smh. That’s the best they can come up with good god have mercy lol smh… ppl gotta eat like u all mister “MINISTERS “ 🙏🏻
For many reasons the affairs of this Island needs to be revised. When this should have been established a long time ago the rat race to have minibus was escalating now you wanted to reverse it when 90% of the buses are under loan financing? You expect this to go down well with those individuals? Our leaders are failing us terribly and they believed to themselves they are doing great strides for the people. Pure BS.
Fix the roads and have the police to police the roads more often and to charge those delinquent drivers for obstructing traffic, no 1st and 2nd chances and you will find a greater flow of traffic by just enforce those two things.
King why not your ministry issue a statement on the reopening of the vieux sucrieux road because with one road to the north you will always have congestion
@JA… We have to be careful making allegations like what you are saying. Do you have any evidence to support the things you said? Just saying, be very careful my dear.
to the PS of Infrastructure—Why do you all allow politicians to divulge the content of soon to be released technical reports done by experts? This man knows very well that’s a recommendation from the ongoing study (as well as other previous ones) but he is already claiming to be his idea–worse yet- and due to his poor political history, stakeholders will shun this good idea JUST because its coming from this lazy man! Put a muzzle on it please and allow technical experts and communication specialists (excons) to manage projects!!!! Simple
Thinking it would be better to encourage bus drivers to switch to larger buses and keep it privately owned. fewer but larger buses would be best.
So where are the 7.3 Million worth of vaccines plus that ridiculous 1000 acre fiasco.
This is only a suggestion from the minister. There has not been a feasibility study conducted by a group consisting of transportation experts, community/business leaders and multidisciplinary professionals. Based on their findings and recommendations, you can bring it up for public discussion. Frankly, I support the idea but it comes with a huge financial cost to the government even on a limited basis. Gros Islet/ Castries can benefit from the Minister’s suggestion.
yes it good Monchy bus stand awa the media have to come and see what people going through on an afternoon. They really need to see what passengers going through on afternoon.
Oh boy a deeper hole in the cemetery
A dependable transportation system is definitely needed with legislated bus schedule and bus stops.
It can work but the government must ensure that each major station is well developed. Eg.. if government transport people from Castries to the west coast bus depot, where people can be picked up and transported to their homes by buses, then that west coast depot must be developed with malls, entertainment, shopping outlets, everything a person needs so they can enjoy themselves till they take a bus to their homes….we don’t want the government buses dumping people in an area that is not interesting. This initiative can work with proper planning….
Honestly. This is a great idea. Competition is very vital in any economy. Most of the countries I have lived in provide public transportation at less of a cost to passengers and on a more timely fashion. This thing about sitting in a hot bus until the bus is full, and the absence of a bus schedule is not good for customers. Great idea Mr. Minister
What a ton af trash I read as comments. Are we saying Lucians are so stupid? Anyway colonization had a conscience.
Make sure you put 2 on Monchy 2 Caye Manje,Beausejour because dem malop drivers does really take ppl for majhi..for years now you can never get a bus on time in those areas…they don’t operate on Sundays or after 7:30pm on weekdays
Dear Mom
As you know God has everything in store for those who accept his word (Jesus Christ),as it is written :
Let not your heart be trouble, but pray countinually, favorable or not….
Yes, the Minister was making a suggestion but it doesn’t make sense and plus minibus drivers will never accept this. When we move to a public system, how will minibus drivers survive? There is not enough businesses on other roads. Besides, as someone said, how will the public buses be maintained? Have we forgotten the bobol at Government Funding Scheme? No. It’s better to work with minibus drivers to improve the system. But in the end, it will not matter is the roads stay congested as they are.
That is the stupidest idea I hear from a minister so far how could you decide…there is nothing wrong with our public transportation system why do u want to copy other countries we have the best in the Caribbean…my thoughts is if u want to do something do something where the elderly or disabled receive free ride paid by the government…there needs to be more bus terminals around the island stop having the fellas park on the side of the roads soufriere alone have one and it’s perfect do for other communities doh talk deh and make it seem like what u doing is taking people livelihood