Barbados’s public transport sector has issued a compelling call for collaborative governance as newly appointed Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure Kirk Humphrey assumes office. Roy Raphael, Chairman of the Alliance Owners of Public Transport (AOPT), articulated the industry’s expectations following Monday’s Cabinet inauguration, emphasizing that meaningful partnership between government and operators is essential for achieving transformative public transportation reforms.
Raphael, who is poised for uncontested re-election as AOPT chairman this Sunday, identified urgent priorities requiring ministerial attention. He stressed the critical need to make the state-owned Transport Board and regulatory Transport Authority more accessible to stakeholders, arguing that relying solely on these entities without industry input would hinder progress. The current system faces severe challenges with commuters frequently reporting inability to secure transportation after 6:00 PM or enduring wait times exceeding two hours—despite approximately 1,200 public service vehicles operating across the island.
The transport advocate proposed establishing a dedicated working committee to consolidate all stakeholder interests, better comprehend commuter difficulties, and develop policies to reduce private vehicle congestion. Raphael highlighted how traffic gridlock directly impacts workforce productivity, with employees receiving formal warnings for tardiness despite departing home as early as 7:30 AM. He reasoned that excessive private vehicles complicate PSV navigation during peak hours, diminishing system efficiency.
While acknowledging the complexity of the transportation portfolio, Raphael extended assurances of industry cooperation and support to Minister Humphrey. He suggested successful outcomes would depend on genuine public-private collaboration and proper implementation of well-conceived targets. The minister inherits numerous constituency-level concerns voiced during recent elections, including demands for improved bus services to underserved areas like Eden Lodge.
Raphael further recommended comprehensive infrastructure enhancements, noting that road conditions nationwide fall within the minister’s purview. He endorsed innovative congestion-reduction strategies including park-and-ride facilities, ferry services, optimized use of secondary roads, reactivation of one-way streets, and potential toll systems for private vehicles entering Bridgetown. These measures, coupled with continuation of previous minister Santia Bradshaw’s efficiency initiatives, could collectively transform Barbados’s public transportation landscape.