Illegal transport in Aruba is prompting concerns in the Ponton–Noord corridor, where a Diario report describes unlicensed drivers approaching people waiting for public transportation.
Report describes repeated approaches to passengers
Diario reported that drivers using small vehicles regularly offer rides between Ponton, Noord and Oranjestad. The report described a minimum fare of five Aruban florins and said two or three vehicles may approach when passengers are waiting near a supermarket in Shaba.
In Ponton, the report said drivers sometimes pull onto the wide sidewalk near the former Wema sign and call out to people waiting for transportation. Some passengers accept when they are late for work or need to reach another destination quickly, while others object to the way they are approached.
Insurance and conduct concerns raised
The report said the drivers do not have authorization to operate as buses and may lack insurance that protects passengers if a road incident occurs. It also alleged that some drivers obstruct Arubus vehicles when competing for passengers and react angrily when a ride is declined.
These claims are attributed to Diario’s account; the report did not include a response from transport authorities or the drivers.
Service gaps contribute to demand
The same account linked demand for the informal service to limited waiting infrastructure and gaps in scheduled transportation. It noted the absence of a proper bus shelter in Ponton, limited stops toward Noord and long intervals in Arubus service on the route.
Diario characterized the unlicensed vehicles as unfair competition but also as a service some residents have come to rely on. It called for authorities to address the public-transport structure and develop a safer solution.
Source: read the original report from Diario.
