Sand-truck operators are complaining about the imminent increase in the price for sand at the various pits located along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Several truck operators have already been put on notice by the pit operators that come this Monday, the increase will go into effect.

Truckers, who spoke to the Guyana Standard this morning, said that the increase is premature and was definitely not even expected so soon. They expressed disappointed in how the increase was announced; noting that there was no room for negotiations.

The Guyana Standard was able to confirm that there will be an across-the-board increase.

One truck operator, Bhesham Narine, noted that small trucks that once attracted a fee of between $1,500 and $2,000 per load will have to pay $2,700 to $3,000.

Meanwhile, bigger trucks that once paid $2,500, will we required to pay $5,000 per load, he said.

Them pit man does make money…I don’t know why they want to raise. They pay less than $100 royalty per tonne (of sand) to the government. If we pay duh $3,000 per load…You check it, then from sandpit to (George)town or over the river to Parfaite (Harmonie) is $7,000 diesel we throw, then $700 to cross harbour bridge; duh is done $10,000. People don’t want to pay more than $12,000 or $13,000 for a load…” the truck driver said.

Another driver told the Guyana Standard that if the pit operators go ahead with the increase, there will be no other option but to transfer the increase on to the secondary consumers – the building contractors and prospective homeowners.

We gun have to raise the price for the sand. If people don’t want to pay $12,500 for a load, much less when we tell them de price guh be $15,000. We got to take out expenses. Tyres alone is $60,000 for one and the road bad. Then some of them banna got to pay loan…”

The operator noted that approximately 50 truckers will be affected by this increase.

 

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