“From this school term a dedicated bus service will be in place for college students from North Leeward.” – Carlos James, Area Representative and Minister of Tourism and Culture.
by Grace Francis
More than 40 students from North Leeward attending the St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC), are now benefiting from a significant reduction in transportation costs, thanks to the government which provided school buses to transport them. However, students from Chateaubelair and Fitzhughes have complained about the bus not going to those two communities because it is filled when it gets to Petit Bordel- about a minute’s drive to Chateaubelair.
They, therefore, have to still travel to college by taxi. The bus service which transports the students to the Villa campus of the SVGCC, has been described by one of its
drivers Lloyd Herbert as a “great investment” that makes a huge difference for the community. Herbert, also known as Lenny, said that the buses started operating from Monday, September, 8, 2025.
Previously, students from North Leeward, which covers the spread of villages such as Chateaubelair, Fitz Hughes, Petit Bordel, Rosebank, Troumaca, and Spring Village, faced high daily commuting expenses. The typical cost of travel involved taking a taxi, then a van, totalling approximately $24 per day. For students with early classes starting at 8:00 a.m. and finishing as late as 6:00 p.m., this routine posed a significant financial and physical strain.
Now, the newly introduced bus service allows students to travel to and from college at a fraction of the previous cost; they pay just $4.00 per day. Herbert said the government not only provided him with the bus, but also compensates him for operating the daily route.
“The bus was given to me by the government, and they pay me to carry the students,” Herbert told SEARCHLIGHT in an interview.
“The students only have to pay two dollars, which is a big help to the parents.”
The 35-seater bus starts its run in the North Leeward villages around 5:30 a.m. and heads for the Villa Campus around 6:00 a.m.
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