Enhancing Road Passenger Sector: Regulatory & Ownership Shift in Barbados and Sri Lanka
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Explore the regulatory & ownership changes in the road passenger sector of Barbados and Sri Lanka, drawing parallels with Britain and international comparisons. Discover outcomes, challenges, and observations driving the need for transformation.
Enhancing Road Passenger Sector: Regulatory & Ownership Shift in Barbados and Sri Lanka
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The need for regulatory and ownership change in the road passenger sector – the cases of Barbados and Sri Lanka David Greenwood Greystones International Transport Consultancy, Cyprus Charles Roberts Liverpool John Moores University, UK Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Introduction • Britain • Barbados • Sri Lanka • Comparisons: Barbados and Sri Lanka • International comparisons • Conclusions Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Britain: pre-1986 issues • Decline of market for bus services • Rising industry subsidy • Rising costs of service provision, with resultant pressure on fares • Stringent regulation of services and fares • Lack of incentive on operators to innovate Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Britain: regulatory and ownership changes • Replacement of Road Service Licensing by statutory service registration (outside London) • Subsidy only for services that would otherwise cease in the free market; must have gone through competitive tendering • Sequential privatisation of all sectors of the industry in Britain • Introduction of route tendering in London Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Outside London: Continued decline for bus services, although with some notable exceptions Subsidy reduction, cost reduction and fares increases in real terms London: Increase in passenger numbers Fares increases (though more recent drop) Subsidy reduction and cost reduction, though more recent increases Britain: outcomes With very few exceptions, all bus companies are in the private sector, with the majority being owned by a small number of major groups Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Barbados • Barbados Transport Board: state-owned corporation formed 1955 • Approximately 250 buses • Competition from minibuses, route taxis, taxis and hire cars • Fares controlled by government • Poor safety record Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Barbados Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Barbados Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Barbados: outcomes and observations • Overstaffing • Bus passengers receive a poor level of service • High subsidy • High level of control by trades unions Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Sri Lanka • Large state-owned enterprise: • 10,000 buses • 60,000 employees • Nearly 100 bus garages • Various forms of semi-public ownership tried in the period 1977-2002 • Privatisation plan abandoned due to political change Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Sri Lanka Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Sri Lanka Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Sri Lanka: outcomes and observations • Depot facilities grossly inadequate • Overstaffing – “sent to Japan” concept • Poor disciplinary standards • Low level of mileage operated • Inadequate control of revenue Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Barbados v Sri Lanka: common issues • Socialist economies • Price and employment controls • “… efficiency is an English concept” • Politically-motivated decision making • Lack of management skills • Little concern for passenger or taxpayer Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Barbados v Sri Lanka: differences • Barbados economy more developed • International support declined for different reasons Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
International comparisons • Ownership form: • Relative benefits of arms-length public sector, small enterprise, plc etc • Competition in the market: • Impact of competition being able to “cream off” revenue Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
International comparisons • Political involvement: • Policy v executive decision making • Managerial competence and cross-cultural issues: • Training and qualifications • Overseas influences Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts
Conclusions • British experiences could be applied to markets in developing countries • Efficiencies primarily accrue through effective management • Controls important on ‘unfair’ competition • Overseas transfer of skills can be a useful expedient Thredbo9 09/2005 Barbados and Sri Lanka Dr Charles Roberts