I write not merely as a parent, but as a deeply concerned citizen who recognises a growing crisis that affects our nation’s children daily.
The issue of school children being left stranded by omnibus drivers and conductors after school, especially those attending evening classes, has reached a point that demands urgent public attention and government intervention.
Every afternoon, children who sacrifice extra hours to strengthen their education are forced to face an unnecessary battle — not for grades or knowledge, but for the basic right of safe transportation home.
Vans often bypass them at bus stops, and, in some cases, children who manage to signal a ride are met with blatant refusal.
Shockingly, there are real instances where drivers openly instruct conductors not to take up children, and conductors do likewise, sending a demoralising message that these young ones are unwelcome.
Despite the few schoolchildren who idle at bus stops — those who sometimes refuse an early bus because they either live in areas where transportation is easy to access at any hour, or who are simply carefree — this creates a false narrative that overshadows the truth. The vast majority of students, particularly those who attend evening classes, are longing for a ride home after investing in their futures.
These are the children most at risk of being left behind in the waning daylight, vulnerable to the many dangers that lurk when night falls.
What makes this reality even more disheartening is the absence of clear and enforceable legislation to safeguard school children from such treatment.
Parents send their children to school with the trust that the wider community, including the public transport system, will respect and support that effort. Instead, parents are left with anxiety, children are left with fear, and society is left with a glaring gap in its duty of care.
This is not just an inconvenience — it is a matter of safety, dignity, and fairness. It is time for the relevant Ministry, in partnership with the Police Traffic Branch, to acknowledge the seriousness of this issue and to enforce regulations that guarantee school children safe and reliable access to transportation.
The future of our nation rests in the hands of these children. Leaving them stranded, disregarded, and unsafe after long school days is a silent betrayal of their ambition and of the sacrifices parents make daily.
A concerned parent of two ambitious children with evening classes
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Safe transportation home using what is a private transportation system is certainly not a basic human right in SVG.
Neither are more common important needs like adequate food, clothing, shelter, and public safety.
Introducing a parallel public system would only make matters worse because it would be too costly to do so.
If you want all these ‘rights,’ consider migrating to a richer country.