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 start- up 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.
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