The mini-bus operators plying the Georgetown to Mahdia route have stopped operating their vehicles to protest the hike in the bridge-crossing fee due to the newly implemented Value Added Tax (VAT).
When this newspaper visited the bus park yesterday not a single bus was in sight.
Stabroek News was told that since the implementation of the tax on January 1, drivers are now being asked to pay increased fees to cross the Kurupukari Bridge, which is operated by the Mekdeci company. Repeated efforts to contact company officials yesterday were unsuccessful.
In addition to this drivers are faced with a bad road that constantly causes damage to their vehicles. The high cost of repairs is borne by them and with this new addition to the bridge crossing fares, they will now suffer.
The drivers are pleading with the relevant authorities to restore the original tariff.
