“It’s like the bus system here is a black and white TV in a modern house,” is how economist Dr. Thomas Samuel has described the island’s transportation system.
In an interview with St. Lucia Times, Samuel provided a critical review of the transportation system’s impact on the country’s economic growth and development. The veteran economist highlighted the system’s inadequacies, emphasising its incompatibility with current development needs.
“The transportation system in Saint Lucia is somewhat inadequate and incompatible to the needs of the country at this stage of its development,” Dr. Samuel said. “And, unfortunately, it is a sector that has not undergone much transformation. Most of the routes are pretty much the same. They have been established since about 1993. With very few new routes, the population has grown quite a bit during that time over the last 30-plus years and new housing areas have come on board in the country. A lot of them are not well served because we have not really managed that sector very well.”
He argued that the current system operates as a quasi-monopoly, allowing the National Council of Public Transportation (NCOPT) to exert significant market power and influence government decisions.
To address this, he proposed introducing a separate tier of buses, similar to those in Barbados and other Caribbean islands, which would not be controlled by the NCOPT. This change would encourage competition and improve services.
According to Dr. Samuel, this structure would prevent any one player from having 100 per cent market power and promote stability.
“A separate tier of buses not controlled by the NCOPT as it is will be warranted. In other words, you need to have an amendment to your legislation to allow another tier that does not collude with the current tier,” he said.
“Its managers and owners are not under any instructions from NCOPT, which would mean that we would kind of devolve but the same situation where the NCOPT can leverage its power to achieve its objectives. What the market wants is competition to give people options.”
Although Dr. Samuel is doubtful that either the current administration or any future government will implement such policies, he is adamant that they are necessary, even if facilitated by a private sector agent. He argued that government involvement in the transportation sector is essential to ensure stability, provide services to underserved areas, and support disadvantaged communities.
“The government is there to make sure that when the private sector misbehaves, the system does not fall and collapse. The government is there to make sure there’s stability. And that’s a critical role of the government and to help underprivileged people,” he said.
In the past, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has expressed the government’s reluctance to get involved in the transportation sector.
Man is on point but he is clearly preaching to the choir….the only people who do not know that are the Minister of Transport and his staffers….”round” pegs in square holes!
This and our island wide road network need an evolution. The administration/leader that finally makes that decision will not be liked by the public, but it will be the hard decision that need to be made, and St. Lucia can see that it was the right decision years after. Right now, St Lucia should have taken that path 10-15 years ago.
Padna, everything here inadequate. Starting with the politicians. St. Lucia is a rudderless boat. Wherever it goes, it is take there without planning and direction.
This is a great idea on any day of the week. His prediction about any party taking the bull by the horns is also correct. The present transportation system reveals its main deficiency every Sunday. In many communities, prospective travellers are unable commute because transportation is simply not available.
What is meant by a ‘separate tier of buses’, he could have explained further and give an example, or maybe it’s just me, but I don’t understand. But of course the transportation system here is inadequate, he compared it to Barbados, but the topography there is vastly different to that of Saint Lucia. For example, one can go across the island at many points in Barbados which is not possible, at least now, in Saint Lucia. Someone in Anse la Raye who wishes to go to Micoud using public transport must first go to Castries, maybe that’s what is meant by a second tier, I don’t know!
I believe that ‘ separate tier’ of buses should br run by the government where drivers have a monthly wage. These buses should be, more affordable, bigger to accomodate more passengers and should run on a scheduled to leave in a timely manner. The other buses run by NCOPT would operate as per normal, that is, leave when they are fill , for those who may have missed the public ones.
The island needs better roads and an alternative road to the overly conjested road that leads between the North and Castries. This road is unsuitable for the amount of traffic making it an unbearable experience for locals and for visitors to the island. St Lucia relies upon tourism for much of it’s income and many tourists are put off by the poor roads and transport. If St Lucia could make improvements here, then it would pay dividends on helping local people and tourists visiting and spending their money on the island.