City bus operators stick by call for fare hikes

City minibus operators yesterday stood by their move to institute higher fares, while saying that there is no authority that can prevent them from doing so.

Neil Manawar-Khan, who was elected president of a group concerning the route 41 and 46 minibus zones, said yesterday that neither government nor Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad had any authority to tell the operators not to increase their fares, since they are running a private service. “How come you want to dictate to me not to increase my fare? Our fare if $80 and we’re sticking to it,” he said.

His comment was in response to Prashad’s call to commuters not to pay the $20 increase being demanded by operators, saying it was an illegality. Prashad’s call was made on Tuesday after he met Lylon Withers of the