PM KEITH MITCHELL

“I have spoken extensively about the rising cost of airfares in intra regional travel. However, the impact of rising fuel prices is being felt at home throughout the entire region and I know that busmen and taxi operators in Grenada are feeling the squeeze. I therefore want to commend you for the responsible and sober approach you have taken and I am very pleased to be meeting with you today. Together we will work on finding solutions, “Prime Minister Mitchell remarked.

Prime Minister Mitchell also noted that Government firmly believes that the public transportation system should remain in private sector hands. In fact he said that the meeting today clearly demonstrates the success of the private public sector partnership that Government and the bus associations have developed. The Prime Minister noted that while operating as a private entity the bus associations had demonstrated that they have a public conscience and this he says is vital. He said that it was important that the bus associations continued to operate responsibly and praised the new leadership of the association for not following some previous association leaders who preferred confrontation over the collective approach to finding solutions.

At today’s meeting the St. John’s Bus Association, the Eastern Main bus Association, the Woburn Association, the St. Marks association The St. George’s North East Bus Association, The St. George’s North West Bus Association, The Grenville Bus Association, and the Grand Anse Bus Association were all represented. The busmen shared the Prime Minister’s concern over the cost of fuel and said that it was causing them major decreases in revenue.

They also raised concerns to the Prime Minister and Minister of Works about some problems at the new bus terminal. Minister Hood gave assurances to investigate the matters raised.