Only 25 of the 75 state public transport vehicles are in operation today in Las Tunas; however, directors of the operating entity assure that they are looking for various options to face such a deficit.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Of the aforementioned means of transportation, some 40 are detained mainly due to lack of tires and batteries, explained Luis Enrique Arias Peña, director of the Passenger and General Cargo Transport Company (CARDINAL). In a short term, he said, part of these deficiencies could be solved. First, thanks to joint efforts with small and medium-sized private companies to return some batteries to work; and then, with the eventual arrival of tires supplied by the Ministry of Transport.
At the same time, he expressed, they are redoubling their efforts to ensure that as many motorcycle taxis as possible join the stable movement of people between the different ranks. The indication is that these means make at least five daily trips between those points before dedicating to renting in common agreement with the clients, he pointed out. Of the 84 existing in the provincial capital, approximately 50 to 60 would be operating, depending on their technical state, he commented.
Arias Peña reported that they intend that the private truck carriers based in the provincial capital cover at least two trips within the city before making others to the municipalities. The purpose, he insisted, is to reduce the passenger crowds seen at city stops, especially at sunrise and sunset each day.
Other options are on the table to deal with a situation that he described as critical. In the medium term, he explained, they are studying establishing modalities for leasing vehicles to some local private MSMEs to return them to activity; as well as relaxing the current restrictions on access to the historic center of the city for trucks bringing people from the south of the province.
Concerning the absence of ranks, seen for several weeks, of the animal-drawn vehicles designed for the transfer of people, the head of CARDINAL reiterated that the price rate approved for these carriages after the monetary ordering of January 2021 is still in effect. Also, he recalled, the coachmen must make, at least, eight daily trips between the different ranks.
“We have made it clear to the coachmen, he stressed, that when they go from one rank to another they must abide by those prices. Logically, if the route covers two, they can consider the sum of both; but what they cannot do is adopt the position that 'if not rented, we won't work', because that is not the service for which they were given the operating license.”
