The government on Saturday said it remains open to dialogue with minibus operators over fare concerns, while cautioning against unilateral increases and arguing that it has already implemented a range of fiscal measures to cushion commuters from rising global transport costs.
In a statement, Public Works Minister Bishop Juan Edghill said public transport must remain “accessible, affordable and equitable”, stressing that any review of fares should be handled through consultation and established institutional channels.
“The government remains open to constructive dialogue where legitimate concerns exist, but fairness must extend to everyone involved,” Edghill said.
He added that passengers — many of whom rely on minibuses for work, education and essential services — should not be exposed to “exorbitant fare increases” imposed outside agreed processes.
The government outlined several interventions it said were designed to reduce transport-related costs, including the reduction of the fuel excise tax from 50 per cent to zero in March 2022, where it has remained.
It also said it has absorbed billions in foregone revenue as part of efforts to shield consumers from global fuel price volatility.
Additionally, the government pointed to adjustments in freight charges to pre-pandemic levels for tax calculation purposes, which it said helped ease costs on imported transport-related goods such as tyres, batteries, lubricants and spare parts.
It further noted broader cost-of-living measures, including cash grants and the removal of burdensome taxes, aimed at reducing inflationary pressures across the economy, arguing that both commuters and transport operators have benefited from these policies.
The statement comes amid protests and reports of fare increases in parts of the public transport system, which the government said should not be implemented unilaterally.
Edghill warned that any review of fares must be guided by consultation and due process rather than decisions that immediately increase costs for ordinary citizens, including market vendors, pensioners and low-income workers.
Public transport operators have not yet publicly responded to the government’s statement.
