DePeiza: Transport Board in crisis; stand up for rights

According to the President of the Democratic Labour Party, Verla DePeiza, the Transport Board is in crisis and it is time for the public to speak up and have their concerns heard and adequately addressed.

The President noted that she believed there was nothing pleasant about what was happening to the transport system and thereby was satisfied that the Transport Board was in crisis.

She noted that over the past couple of months, she was hearing many people talk about the “lost decade” and described that as “foolishness” as the downward slide of the Transport Board began long before they took over from the previous administration in 2008.

DePeiza did not just state that the slide began long before the DLP took over in 2008, she read the Annual Report from the Transport Board, Table 20 from 2008-2009.

The report stated that from 2004 to 2005, the Transport Board recorded $31.5 million in losses, in 2005 to 2006, $27.1 million losses, 2006-2007, $39.5 million in loss, 2007-2008, $45.9 million in loss, and from 2008-2009, $52.9 million in losses.

She highlighted that these numbers were not cumulative, as they were the total number for each year.

DePeiza went on to state that she believed it was unjustifiable for to carry up a basic need like transportation by 75 per cent, and not make mention of a minimum wage increase.

“This may be the appropriate juncture for the country to stop and think about what it wants out of a transport system. Do you want it to be a commercial enterprise with Government having regulatory control or do you want that there be some built in safeguard for people trying to get about their business; that transport remains a social good?” she asked.

“This is the moment to pause and think about what you want it shaped like and just like those school children, stand up for what you believe in. This is the moment where we have to stop and think about what we want our Barbados to look like and then insist on getting it.

“If there is one thing that the result of the last election taught me is that the role of the electorate must be a continuing one, not every five years. Keep watch and keep guard!”

DePeiza believed that more people like Astor B. Watts, whose 97th birthday was celebrated yesterday, were needed. She described Watts as a person who spoke up without fear or favour and therefore believed that he was a model for other persons of the party to follow.

Watts was also celebrated for being the oldest, active member of the party.