Thursday 1, October, 2020 – The Government of Grenada is continuing its series of engagements with bus operators on the health and safety requirements for operations in the transportation sector. 

In the most recent engagement with the presidents of the Bus Associations and bus operators and senior officials of the Division of Transport, the Royal Grenada Police Force and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Shawn Charles, clarity was provided on the application and enforcement of the Public Health (COVID-19) Regulations and guidelines governing bus operations.

Officials reiterated that it was mandatory for everyone to wear a mask or other suitable face covering in public places including in Bus Terminals and on buses, unless excused on grounds outlined in the Regulations.  

Persons will be held individually responsible for not wearing their mask and will therefore be subject to a fine for non-compliance. 

The COVID-19 Regulations also stipulate that persons travelling on buses must sanitise their hands on entering the bus.  

Therefore, all occupants (passengers and bus operators), must sanitise their hands before entering the bus or utilise the mounted sanitisation facility where available. Occupants are also expected to sanitise their hands after handling money. 

Effective today October 1, 2020, every bus operator will be responsible for the sanitisation of his/her bus.  Sanitisation may be done by way of mechanical application or manually using an approved 70% strength or greater alcohol based solution or disinfectant spray.  

The public is reminded that buses are allowed to operate at full insurable capacity in keeping with health and safety measures as outlined above. 

Meanwhile, The Government of Grenada continues to demonstrate its support for bus operators, to help them cope with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bus operators using the St. George’s Bus Terminal will benefit from an extension of the waiver granted on entry fees. The Ministry of Transport sought and received the extended waiver from the Grenada Ports Authority, to cover the final quarter of 2020, bringing to six months the total period that operators have been exempt from paying such fees. This represents a foregone revenue stream of approximately $600,000 for that period.

Government has also pursued strategic partnerships with private sector entities to bring relief to bus operators.

Following intervention made by the Ministry of Transport, correspondence received Wednesday from the Grenada Bankers’ Association confirmed that member banks will work with bus operators who have loan facilities at these institutions, to ensure that no undue burden is placed on them given the financial fallout of COVID-19. 

Having previously announced its inability to continue direct support for the cost of sanitisation for bus operators, Government has now partnered with Grenada Distillers Ltd. to make a startup contribution of sanitisation fluid to bus operators on October 1, 2020, to assist them in this transitionary phase.  

Minister for Transport, Honourable Gregory Bowen has welcomed the strategic partnerships created to relieve the financial burden on bus operators, as the country continues to face the widespread impact of the pandemic. In total, Government has spent approximately two million dollars ($2,000,000) on cushioning bus operations through direct stimulus support and sanitisation in response to COVID-19.