The Union of Bus Industry Workers (UBIW) and the Transport Industry Workers Union (TIWU) want the authorities to launch an enquiry into the Rs66 million deficit revealed by the National Transport Corporation (NTC) on Wednesday.
The unions said yesterday there are several “anomalies” and that there should be more transparency concerning the financial situation at the bus company. They want a fact-finding committee set up to investigate the situation.
In a letter addressed to the trade unions, NTC employees stated that the company has always generated profits in the past. They accused NTC Chairman Ashwin Dookun and General Mnager Robin Soonarane of being responsible for the financial situation.
The president of the UBIW, Mr Wakil Lalloo, said that the NTC has not progressed and its services have remained poor over the years. He added that if the company does not consider replacing the old buses in the fleet, the company would not be able to be saved.
He also urged the Minister of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport and Shipping, Mr Anil Baichoo, to take into consideration the working conditions of the employees.
“The government injected Rs112 million into the NTC last year and it is impossible that public funds are wasted because of the mismanagement of some senior cadres of the company. “The management has not been able to bring any positive change for years,” Mr Lalloo said.
The spokesperson of the TIWU, Mr Venoo Ramasamy, said that if the government injects another Rs112 million into the NTC, it should be used in a “sensible manner”.
By Nitesh Boodhoo