RURAL BUSES HOLD OFF AS SAMOA SHIFTS TO alert LEVEL 2

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The most recent State of Emergency Orders regarding domestic travel permit the operation of Taxi and Bus services from 6am to 2pm, Monday through to Saturday. However, Taxi Sedans are limited to only 2 passengers per trip including the driver, while buses are limited to only 20 passengers. Passengers are also required to show their COVID-19 Vaccination card, observe social distancing and must wear face masks.

After midnight Tuesday, 5th April 2022, Samoa officially made the shift from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2. However, despite businesses reopening and members of the public returning to work today, several bus operators still opted not to operate.

This morning several members of the public found themselves late or unable to make it work when their usual buses did not arrive.

This comes as operators express their concerns that with the new time and passenger restrictions, their businesses are at a complete loss.

Additionally, the price of Diesel also recently rose by 2.28 sene per liter to $3.30 per liter this month, and operators have stated that the costs to continue operating under the current circumstances far outweigh returns. Some bus drivers have also expressed concerns of catching COVID-19 from members of the public.

With almost half of routine trips each day cancelled due to the new 2pm lockdown, and only 20 passengers allowed on board at one time, a bus operator has stated “It is a big loss for us.”

Another fleet owner explained that he had reduced the number of buses in service today to reduce running costs. The owner still chose to operate one bus today for those members of the public who rely on their service, but shared that they too would be operating at a loss.

Members of the public noted that several of the buses from the Rural areas were not in service this morning.

It would appear that bus operators in the rural areas are especially affected by the new restrictions as “the bus has 20 people on it before they even make it pass 2 villages", a member of the public stated.

Many have raised questions in regards to the new Alert Level 2 Conditions, and have expressed feelings of uncertainty as Samoa adjusts to the new norm of “Living with Covid."

One thing to be certain of is that with a lack of public transportation there are sure to be challenges ahead.