Following the government's ratification of omnibus legislation that allows the private sector to enter the public transportation market, Seychelles residents will soon have more commuting options. The Minister of Transport, Antony Derjacques, stated during a press conference on Thursday that this move is in accordance with the government's aim to democratize the transportation industry.
The Seychelles Public Transport Corporation (SPTC), which operates on the islands of Mahe and Praslin, has been the only public transportation operator in Seychelles for almost 40 years. SPTC transports 50,000 passengers every day on average. Following public engagements, it became clear that the public wants an additional service to complement SPTC offerings. The people also desire better comfort and higher-quality service. Derjacques stated that they wish Seychellois to have more transit options. We would want to see an improvement in the quality of the service, and we are aware that there are currently omnibus operators offering private bus shuttle services, notably in Mahe's north. The formalization and legitimization of the behavior will result from the adoption of such a policy.
Patrick Andre, the principal secretary for Land Transport, emphasized that to operate, oversee, manage, and enforce any regulations put in place to allow omnibus operators to service the public, we need to have an independent institution. Andre remarked that SPTC now functions under a decree, which will be abolished and replaced by a new rule covering the new modes of public transportation. All of the factors will be determined by this organization, which will issue an expression of interest to omnibus operators, allowing anybody interested in joining the business to do so.
The minister stated that the motto behind omnibus is to reduce traffic congestion. Hence by enabling omnibus operators to deliver public services, the government expects fewer people to use their personal vehicles. Derjacques stated, "We want to change the way Seychellois commute by combining it with other initiatives being implemented by the ministry, such as multi-story parking garages. This will have a direct impact on our daily lives, business operations, and how we use our commute time. It's not fair for someone who lives in Mahe's south end to lose three hours every day merely to get to and from work."
As the press conference proceeded, it was stated that SPTC's services would stay unchanged. The government has no plans to increase the amount of funds it gives to the corporation as a subsidy. Derjacques added, "Some employees will be drawn to work in the private sector, so the corporation may require fewer employees." This may lower the amount of money SPTC spends on resources. We believe the corporation will become more efficient and slimmer as a result of this, requiring less government money to function.
