Africa-Press – Cape verde. Hiace drivers operating on the Santa Cruz–Praia route denounced unfair competition, high ticket costs, and lack of security this Tuesday, the 24th, demanding greater intervention from the authorities to guarantee organization and protection at the bus stop.
The drivers state that the complaints have been increasing and appeal for urgent attention from the competent authorities, especially regarding the permanent presence of a National Police officer in the boarding queue.
Domingos Tavares acknowledges that there have been improvements in the queue organization, implemented since 2018, but considers that significant shortcomings still exist.
According to him, the absence of continuous policing has generated conflicts, mainly when vehicles from other municipalities operate in the area and pick up passengers outside the established rules.
“We have been fighting for years with the city council to guarantee security, but the police are not always able to provide coverage. This harms both the drivers and the passengers themselves,” he stated, emphasizing that a police presence would be essential to prevent disorder.
Regarding costs, the drivers complain about the daily fee of 100 escudos charged in the municipality, considered high compared to other locations, such as Calheta de São Miguel, where, they say, the fee is lower and there is greater support in terms of inspection and security.
Mário Alves, another driver, defends maintaining the organized queue, but insists on the need for increased security.
“Without a police officer, there are many constraints. When vehicles from outside the area appear, conflicts arise, and there is not always consensus among the colleagues themselves,” he said.
Despite the presence of six municipal inspectors assigned to the stop, the minivan drivers consider the inspection insufficient to curb irregular practices, such as the circulation of clandestine transport, cited as one of the main causes of frequent disagreements.
The organized queue of minivans, located in front of the Pedra Badejo municipal market, initially brought benefits, such as a reduction in waiting time to complete trips.
However, drivers say that, recently, they have faced several constraints that compromise the functioning of the system.
Faced with this scenario, they are calling for more effective intervention from the authorities, with increased security and better oversight, in order to guarantee decent working conditions and greater peace of mind for public transport users.
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