By *Jeshua Bardoo
One day while I was traveling in a van in the afternoon in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I witnessed something very disturbing.
I was minding my own business when I noticed the van stopped in Villa to pick up what appeared to be a white male and a white female tourist.
Upon stopping in Arnos Vale, the tourists got out of the van and the male tourist gave the driver $20. However, I saw that the male tourist was only given back $10.
Now, Vincentians reading this article may know that it does not (at least not currently) cost $10 for two people to travel by van from Villa to Arnos Vale.
Some of the passengers in the van noticed this and called out the driver and/or conductor for their actions but instead of doing the right thing, the passengers were cursed out.
I am very ashamed of what I witnessed, and I cannot stay silent. It is not right.
As Vincentians, we must not steal from or unreasonably overcharge tourists who visit our shores for business or pleasure. When we do this, we leave a bad impression, and this discourages other persons from coming to SVG.
If we want to advertise our country as a tourist destination, we must lift our standards higher. We already have enough social, and human rights issues plaguing this country that could and do discourage persons from coming to SVG. Let us not add to the list by stealing from or unreasonably overcharging tourists! STOP IT!
*Jeshua Bardoo is a Vincentian barrister-at-law and solicitor. He is also the President of Equal Rights, Access and Opportunities SVG Inc. He can be contacted via email at [email protected].
The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
Call them out
Next time take note of the van number and publish it or better yet a photo captioned “Known to rob visitors”
It is very good to hear Vincentians exposing such despicable behaviours, and rightly highlighting the negative impact they could have on the country’s reputation and the tourist industry, one of the main industries. To deliberately hike prices during the tourist season, as is common in the Grenadines, is bad enough, but to rob them is nothing but shameful. I agree, it must stop. But how?
Very bad, thank you and the other travelers for highlighting, very very disgusting
Having spent 20 years in SVG I noted that in some circumstances a 3 tier price schedule exists; white people / not from here price, JCB (just come back price, and local people dem price. Over charging the unsuspecting is not a new practice in Vincy, you just didn’t notice it before!
I Praised God for you Jeshua! ❤️ You are a good citizen! People don’t like to be fooled and definitely they will find someone who will tell them what’s the correct fare. I love to travel. Actually I’m in Antigua. The first time I took the bus from English Harbour to the last stop which is St John I paid EC3.25. because I asked someone. On Saturday to go to church I gave the driver the same amount. I asked him to drop me to any Adventist Church bear by. He gave me back part of my money. He said you gave me too much. Only when you go far you pay EC3.25. I complimented him and I Blessed him. I kept him in my prayers for God Blessings to follow him and his family! Some people don’t understand. They work will follow them. Kindness always come back!