Read full statement from the Ministry of Public Works:
The Government of Guyana has explicitly stated that it has neither approved nor sanctioned any increase in fares across all modes of public transportation, including minibuses, hire cars, speedboats, and airport taxis. Minister of Public Works, Bishop Juan Edghill, who holds responsibility for the transport sector, strongly reiterated this position yesterday during a direct engagement with public transportation owners and operators at the Stabroek Market Square.
“No fare increase has been approved by the government, whether it is for speedboats, taxis, minibuses, or hire cars. The fares remain the same. No Guyanese citizen, tourist, child, or worker should be forced to pay increased rates,” Minister Edghill emphasized.
“Furthermore, no driver has the authority to put a passenger out of their vehicle for refusing to pay unapproved fares. If anyone forces you to pay an increased fare or subjects you to harassment, report it immediately and we, as the regulators, will take decisive action.”
The high-level government panel also included Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues (who has oversight of the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission); Director General of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Captain Stephen Thomas; Traffic Chief and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mahendra Singh; and representatives from the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). The public meeting was organized in response to growing reports of arbitrary fare increases by operators. The open forum allowed commuters to share their experiences and gave operators a platform to voice their concerns.
Minister Rodrigues reminded commuters that public transportation is classified as a public utility, and passengers are legally protected against price gouging.
“A public utility includes the carriage of passengers by motor vehicles, including minibuses and hire cars. Therefore, you can lodge a formal complaint with the Public Utilities Commission if you are charged above the approved fare structure,” Minister Rodrigues explained. “We often hear complaints that fares suddenly double during heavy traffic or peak seasons like Christmas. This arbitrary increase is unacceptable and distorts fair market conditions.”
Both Ministers highlighted that the government has continuously
implemented cushions—such as removing fuel taxes, absorbing shipping
cost increases, and slashing duties on key commodities—specifically to shield citizens and operators from global inflationary pressures. The government has warned that non-compliance will carry severe consequences. Captain Stephen Thomas of MARAD underscored that operating licenses are a privilege, not a right, and are tied directly to regulatory compliance and passenger safety.
He revealed that strict penalties are already being enforced following incidents over the past weekend where passengers were left stranded at the Parika and Bartica stellings due to operators refusing to work for standard fares.
“Let us be categorically clear, operators who arbitrarily exercise price gouging will have their licenses suspended or revoked. There is a long waiting list of applicants eager to operate on these routes, so non-compliant operators will simply be replacing themselves,” Captain Thomas warned. “We have already recorded the identities of the operators who left passengers stranded this weekend, and we intend to suspend their licenses.”
While the Government maintains a strict stance against unauthorized fare hikes, it acknowledged the operational challenges raised by transport providers—specifically the rising and unregulated costs of vehicular spare parts. To address this, the government pledged to engage major importers and distributors of automotive parts to explore interventions that can lower overhead costs for operators.
Concluding the meeting, Minister Edghill issued a final directive;
all public transportation operators – including minibuses, taxis and speedboats – must prominently displace their approved fare structures inside their vehicles or vessels for passengers to see.
The Government of Guyana remains committed to ensuring an affordable, safe, and equitable public transportation system that protects the livelihoods of operators while robustly safeguarding the pockets of the Guyanese public.
End
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