Commuters to Pay More for Public Transport

Commuters on island are slapped with an increase in bus fares.

The Montserrat Tours and Taxi Association on Wednesday announced the increase which took immediate effect.

Residents will now be required to pay five dollars for day stop, up from the previous three dollars. Night stops (after 6 PM) and off road stops now cost seven dollars, which is a two dollars increase.

Primary school children will pay three dollars, 1 dollar more than before.

This is the first increase in bus fare since 2005. The Montserrat Tours and Taxi Association had requested an increase in 2008 but it was not granted.

The new prices come following a meeting among association members who say they can no longer drive themselves into poverty and accept/take a loss.

The association says that like the general public, so too are bus drivers grappling with the increase in gasoline and diesel prices.