Bus Shortage on the Surinam-Port Louis Route: A Young Worker Penalized

Title: Bus Shortage on the Surinam-Port Louis Route: A Young Worker Penalized

In Surinam, in the South, public transport difficulties continue to heavily impact the daily lives of many users. Anna, a 24-year-old local resident working in Phoenix, laments the severe lack of buses on the Surinam-Port Louis route, a situation that jeopardizes her job stability.

Working from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Anna explains that she faces significant challenges in getting to work under normal conditions. Buses are scarce in the morning and at the end of the day. When they do run, they are often overcrowded, forcing drivers to refuse passengers. "I sometimes wait over an hour without seeing a bus arrive," she confesses. This situation occurs almost daily.

These repeated delays have already had consequences. Anna has received multiple warnings at work, while the reasons for her tardiness are entirely beyond her control. "I do my best, but without reliable transport, it's impossible," she laments.

In hopes of understanding the root of the problem, she visited the CNT garage in Souillac. There, she was informed that some buses only leave after 10 AM, despite several vehicles being parked at the depot. She cannot comprehend this situation, especially during peak hours when demand is high. Her numerous calls to the National Transport Company (CNT) have reportedly gone unanswered.

Faced with this lack of communication and the absence of concrete solutions, the young woman is at her wit's end. She calls for urgent action to reinforce the service on this essential route, which is used daily by many workers and students.

Contacted about this issue on the Explik Ou Ka show by Radio Plus, Iqbal Oozageer, press officer at the Ministry of Transport, stated that he has taken note of Anna's testimony. After checking with the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA) and the CNT, he clarified that this route — Chemin Grenier–Surinam–Port Louis — is indeed served only by the CNT. According to the schedule established by the NLTA, buses should run every 15 to 20 minutes during peak hours. "It is not normal for a user to wait an hour for a bus. Such situations should not occur." The adherence to schedules is the operator's responsibility. He mentioned that he has contacted the relevant inspector to ensure corrective measures are taken to address these operational issues.

He announced the upcoming implementation of a Fleet Management System (FMS), a fleet management system based on GPS technology. Each bus will be equipped with a device allowing real-time tracking, upcoming schedule displays, and immediate identification of any operational deviations. This project, developed with the support of a specialized consultant, aims to improve service regularity and operational supervision.

Transport Minister Osman Mahomed stated that this system will ultimately allow for more efficient and automated management of the bus network.