No hike in bus fares

The Ministry of Commerce is advising the public not to pay any increase in minibus fares for the various routes, saying that the price structure remains the same since the last increase in 2005.

The advisory comes while many minibus operators who ply Route 40 (Kitty/Campbellville) have already increased fares from $60 to $80.

The new fare structures are posted in some of the buses affiliated to the United Minibus Union.

“Minibus operators/owners are expected not to charge the travelling public any increase in fares which violates the understanding reached between the Ministry of Tourism, In-dustry and Commerce and the Mini Bus Operators in 2005,” the Ministry, however, said in a statement yesterday.

Minibus operators are expected to request an increase in fares when gasoline and diesel increase above one thousand dollars per gallon, the ministry added.