President of the Public Transit Association Reuben Rahming told The Bahama Journal on Wednesday that after consultation with the association’s attorney it was decided that the sale of new prepaid bus passes would be halted until a compromise is reached with the government.
Transport officials said recently the cards were not approved by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.
The news followed the official public launch of the new cards.
Mr. Rahming said the cards were specifically designed for use in October and by not using them this month, the association stands to lose a substantial amount of money for the redesign and distribution of the passes.
He said funds from the sale of the cards were intended to fund certain association initiatives.
“These cards are ultimately linked to a more pressing issue which is it ties directly to our ability to radically, drastically, and fairly immediately change the quality of service in the country,” Mr. Rahming said.
“For example, the quarter of a million dollar deal for the communications system. The money generated from the sale of those flash cards would have gone directly toward infrastructure and the necessary payments on these various contracts and to facilitate the installation of a massive transit communication system in all the buses.”
He said the problem with the ministry initially could be summed up as a lack of communication between both parties.
“We are in active dialog with the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and have received a position from our attorney on how to react on the matter,” he said. “Out of a courtesy, we have also halted temporarily the sale of the cards to make sure that there is a full clarity of understanding.”
He added, “We look forward to a good response [from] the minister and her ministry as it relates to this matter because time won’t allow us to tarry.”
Mr. Rahming said he has confidence that Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin would “see the bigger picture”, as it relates to the sale of the passes.
According to Mr. Rahming the bigger picture is financing the overhaul of the public transit system in The Bahamas through the sale of the passes.
As part of that initiative, the president plans to focus primarily on communication among drivers and heightened customer service while onboard association buses.
Meantime, transportation officials declined to comment on the matter at this time.
By: Perez Clarke, The Bahama Journal
