00:00 Route three or green band maxi taxis are no longer limited to entry onto the bus
00:05 route from over junction which had been the case for years when plying their
00:09 trade from Chagones or San Fernando to Port of Spain. President of the route
00:14 three maxi taxi association Vikash Kisunda tells us drivers are in a much
00:19 better position following negotiations with Minister of Works and Transport
00:23 Rohan Senanan and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry.
00:27 We were able to get access from Mountoop. The Mountoop intersection at
00:33 Champs-Ely and go straight into Port of Spain. So we'll be flying for hire from
00:38 Chagones to Port of Spain via Mountoop. So the passengers, our barrette
00:47 or anybody who wants to drop within that vicinity can drop off within that vicinity as well.
00:52 Kisunda says it would also lessen the burden of traffic congestion in the
00:56 morning and afternoon periods and commuters who usually rely on two or
01:00 three sets of transportation to get to and from San Juan and in Virens to go to
01:05 Chagones can now get a direct drop there. He tells us that maxi taxis can still
01:11 use the mover route so commuters dropping on the highway at San Juan or
01:15 Arangues need not worry. Drivers began to use the extended PBR route from Mount
01:21 Hope around March 6th. We are currently on a trial basis for three months. On the 18th of May
01:27 will be the end of the trial period but the proposal we wrote to the ministry is
01:32 that we ask them to issue passes so we have to apply for the passes just as the
01:37 Red Ban applies for passes to use the bus route. Same criteria, they'll have to be
01:41 taken into consideration for Green Ban approaches to be allowed to use the bus
01:45 route after the trial period has ended. They didn't need passes to use the PBR
01:50 from over junction and Kisundat explains the reason behind the suggestion of
01:54 getting passes now. So then why do you need a pass now? I think because we
02:00 more or less, more of the bus should be used now. I think it's only fair that our comrades in the Red Ban arena
02:08 have to actually pass and be qualified with defensive driving. They can't have more
02:15 than 90 points on their permit. All these different things. I think it's just fair
02:19 that we should do the same procedure as well. They plan to start a service from San
02:24 Fernando soon as they welcome the broadening of the highway in the
02:27 vicinity of Chase Village, Cuva. Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
02:34 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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