Yesterday, my housekeeper was left on the road, at 2pm, because Arubus never showed. And we are all familiar with the sight of a huge smoke-spewing bus, transporting 2 people. We should start doing things differently and dismantle Arubus.
A local publication recently devoted at large article to that company and its financial vows, as discussed in a report by the auditors from the General Audit Chamber, titled “At a distance, yet up close.”
The investigation focused on the island’s governmental companies, between the years 2018 and 2020. The article elaborated on the shortcomings of Arubus, with its revenues dwindling, and expenses rising. They said the company was plagued by lack of transparency, lack of prompt reporting, and a general inefficient conduct, bordering on illegality, contributing to a financial disaster.
The article pointed out that the former minister of transportation, today, a lackluster middle-school teacher, bought 13 buses in 2019, and committed to buying 15, in 2021. The first purchase was backed up by proper documents. The second purchase was not, and at the time, he was no longer the minister in charge. His successor, the current minister, had to honor that commitment, and spring for the expense out of GOA’s budget, which made it illegal.
I have written about Arubus repeatedly, yet the company is stuck, paralyzed, incapable of saving itself.
When I visited Medellin, Colombia, I was told the story of the Medellin metro cable, how it revolutionized life in the city, people could get off the mountain and go to work, they gained access to services and everything the city had to offer. Because of the difficult topography, ground transportation was impossible, and the cable cars with gliding gondolas, delivered a perfect solution, which thousands of commuters take advantage of, every day. Before the cable cars people spent 2 ½ hours on the road to work. Now, they get off the mountain and continue with other modes of public transport to their destination. Most importantly, studies have suggested strong correlations between the intervention of the metro cables and dramatic reductions in crime associated with the areas where Medellín metro cable has been introduced.
Interesting lesson. GOA should offer its 100+ Arubus employees alternatives. Allow the drivers to become self-employed as minibus owners/drivers. This will be our UBER. Let the traditional taxis service the hotels, while the former Arubus drivers who now work for themselves, having bought a minibus at special financial terms, serve the local market, getting to every single street and barrio.
We will save millions each year. The tax office shows we already have over 160 bus companies, so why heavily subsidize Arubus?
We must improve our public transportation system — we owe it to the locals who now rely mostly on ‘private transport.’
It is good to remember that when Chris Romero, was the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, he bought buses and telecom equipment in interesting place. A trip to Brazil coincided with the opening of the Final Copa Brazil in soccer. He also took a two week trip to Saudi Arabia, one week in St Lucia, Christmas Shopping and a New Year holiday in NY, three trips to Spain, Mexico, England, Argentina and 4 trips to Columbia and the neighboring islands, also Cuba, for trips ranging from 3 to 12 days, 200 days on the road. My guess is that as a teacher, he now stays put.
