Bus driver suspended as SPTC conducts investigation in weekend incident |22 March 2018

The government and the SPTC have severely condemned an incident over the weekend where a bus driver refused to take onboard a group of five Indian nationals at Takamaka saying the bus was for Seychellois.

Answering an urgent question in the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, the Minister for Habitat,Infrastructure and Land Transport, Charles Bastienne,  said the driver has been suspended until investigation in the incident is completed.

LDS member Terence Mondon had asked Minister Bastienne to explain what action the SPTC has taken following the incident, the policy of the SPTC to ensure such xenophobic action and behaviour do not spread in the country and if the SPTC could submit a report of the incident to the National Assembly in less than two weeks.

Minister Bastienne said the SPTC has acted quickly, a day after learning of the incident by formally taking in the complaint from the female witness who reported the incident before identifying the part time driver concerned and opened an investigation to establish the circumstance of the incident.

With regard to the SPTC’s policy to address such an incident, Minister Bastienne  stated that the corporation’s policy on public transport is clear ; it is a public transport corporation which does not restrict any passenger from boarding its buses except on rare cases of drunkenness, unruly and aggressive behaviour threatening other passengers.

“The mandate of the SPTC is clear and this is to offer a service to all commuters -- Seychellois and foreigners -- without any exception. The SPTC is stepping up its effort to reinforce this among its employees more particularly among the drivers through refresher training courses,” Minister Bastienne pointed out.

He reminded every Seychellois that it is our responsibility to denounce but not condone these kinds of behaviour and action in our society.

“We are a nation who welcomes all people irrespective of their race, skin colour, religious beliefs and culture. Foreigners come here as visitors or to work and contribute in the economic development of our country,” Minister Bastienne stressed.

Meanwhile he has assured the MNAs that once investigation in the incident is completed the SPTC will submit a copy of the report to the National Assembly.

Mr Mondon pointed out that when drivers of public transport display such an attitude and vent frustration while at the wheel, it should be a cause for concern for all of us and the question that begs is whether they are getting adequate preparation before they are accepted in these positions and whether the different grievances the drivers highlighted by the end of last year have been addressed.

Minister Bastienne informed the Assembly that all prospective drivers undergo intensive training which include driving skills, customer care, how to deal with unruly commuters, road safety among many other aspects.

He has described the weekend incident as an isolated one and said it is the responsibility and duty of the SPTC and his ministry to ensure that such an incident never repeats itself.

He went on to add that such deplorable behaviour and action involving foreigners should never ever happen again be it at the SPTC or in any other organisation.

“We also travel to other countries and I am sure none of us would want to be treated this way. For many years now the SPTC has been relying on the expertise of foreign mechanics to help service its fleet of Tata buses and there has always been a great understanding between both the local and foreign employees,” Minister Bastienne pointed out.

While he agreed that xenophobic actions and behaviour should be firmly dealt with, the leader of the opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan, who added his voice to denounce the attitude, called on the SPTC to severely reprimand the driver and  verbally warn him but to spare him his job.

For his part Parti Lepep MNA Sebastien Pillay has reminded all Seychellois and all foreigners working here that we live in a country made up of citizens from all corners of the globe and there is no place for xenophobic and racist attitudes.

“Any frustrations should be dealt with appropriately and all elements causing them should be addressed accordingly,” Mr Pillay said.