TransporT Board duo live To
puT smiles on passengers' faces
by Melissa Rollock
They are a dying breed. Victor Greene and Everton Jordan are two public servants who believe service should not only be given
with a smile, but a kind word and caring touch.
In these days, where service excellence is more the exception than the rule, Greene and Jordan stand out like two beacons in the
civil service. And where else did Barbados TODAY find them but at the Transport Board where they work as bus drivers.
But why single out these two you might ask? Two recent incidents brought them to the attention of this newspaper.
Both Greene and Jordan were commended on separate occasions for their courteous service by members of the public.
Greene who works out of the Speightstown Bus Terminal totally blew the minds of a group of passengers who were left waiting
inordinately long in the Princess Alice Terminal, on a Pie Corner [St. Lucy] bus that never came on September 3.
A passenger, a Ms. Busby, wrote that when Greene arrived, he disembarked the bus saying "good afternoon" to the upset
commuters as he made his way to the office. Shortly afterwards, the announcement was made that passengers travelling the Pie
Corner/Boscobelle route should begin boarding Greene's bus.
"The driver re-entered the bus, put up the appropriate
signage and started to collect the fare. After all the passengers
had entered the bus, he turned in his seat and said: `Two things,
first of all, good afternoon to all, I understand that most of
you if not all of you have been waiting for a 4:30 bus, let me
apologise for that, I have no control over that, but let me say it
is a pleasure to have you in my company and to take you down
the road. Also the Pie Corner people will be transferring in
Speightstown, I know you don't want to take the long drive, (he
chuckled) neither do I'.
"This bus driver is a gem. He displayed manners, courtesy,
empathy, and all-round goodwill. He is an ambassador for
the Transport Board. The people that had been waiting in
line, frustrated and disgruntled for over an hour were visibly
appreciative, frowns were replaced with smiles," she wrote.
Greene, initially at a loss as to why he was called to meet with
Barbados TODAY, smiled as he realised the purpose of the inte
"It is my personality. I used to work on the Bypass and I had this
That is how a lot of people know me. I remember telling passengers
but I know with me your journey will be enjoyable and pleasant. I k
it is a long drive when you have two trips combined; especially Bosc
"Then everyone started to clap and they thanked me for making
one time and said `Driver, honestly you really made my day. I was v
felt good and you don't find many drivers like that'.
I let her know everyone is different. I never knew what [that occ
feel happy. The way I see it, the passengers are who pay me. I tell p
modestly.
Fellow colleague Jordan was also caught off guard over the interv
He had chalked up an incident that occurred on August 29, as ju
it was much more than that.
In fact, they were so bowled over by Jordan's actions that they w
document it.
Accompanying the group of visitors was a lecturer from the Univ
name as Ms. Evans. She had conducted a Summer writers' workshop
St. Joseph. So they hopped on a Sugar Hill bus, driven by Jordan and
had in a very long time here in Barbados".
"He was professional, helpful, and all-round very pleasant
much negative going on in our society, the positive needs to
be highlighted or we will lose hope in our people and our
nation. Kudos must go to Everton for making the afternoon an
unforgettable one and for representing his profession and his
employers so well," wrote Ms. Evans.
Jordan's face lit up when he read the commendation and he
recalled exactly what happened.
"When I was parked in the bus terminal, I realised there was
a group of about six ladies together. They asked me where the
bus was going, I told them Sugar Hill and they said they want to
take the ride with me. While on the route, they asked me if the
bus was going to pass the library at Horse Hill, [St. Joseph], I said
`no, the bus will not pass there'.
"On the route we were talking ... I said, well I am not
supposed to go up there because I would be off-route,
but I said I would take them there and then go back on
the route. I asked the other passengers on the bus if it
was okay and they said it was no problem. I showed them
Grantley Adams School, the court, police station, library
and post office in the police complex. They took some
pictures and we went in Blackmans, [St. Joseph. I showed
them the picturesque view of the East Coast.
"One of the ladies gave me an autographed copy of her
book. They took pictures of me too.
She told me she enjoyed the ride and when she got
home she would call Transport Board and tell them about
the good service I gave them. For me it is not the glory, b
it is a job that I love and that's why I do it," said Jordan.
Greene and Jordan are from the old school and both
share a love for driving and for people. Greene, the more
senior of the two, joined the Transport Board back in
December, 1977 � that's almost 34 years � and Jordan wh
joined in October, 1989, will be doing 22 years next mont
Greene told Barbados TODAY he relishes going to
work since his passengers motivate him to do so every da
"I always feel that if I don't come, they will miss me. I e
told them yesterday `don't look for me today because I am
working a different route'. They said `Oh no, I hope [your
replacement] is as pleasant as you are'. I said, `well whoeve
they are, I hope you will appreciate them and when you do
good, they will probably do good to you'," he said.
Jordan's father was a bus driver too, and that motivate
to join. Initially, he had some problems getting in because
age � he was too young. When he finally got on board at t
age of 22, he was the youngest driver at that time. Even th
another.
"It is a hard job, but as long as you put your mind to it
because I enjoy this. Whether I have a problem or not wh
just disappears," he said.
According to him, bus drivers have gotten a bad rap ov
also positive. Most of the time, they have to play multiple
police since they are in control of the buses. In the event
and before they headed to home to their families, he poin
on the bus, they are expected to be responsible for them
nowhere that they are obligated to do this.
Over the years, the type of passenger that uses the pub
noted. Whereas before, they were greeted with "good mo
blatantly ignored by passengers who pay the fare and proc
Page 18 www.barbadostoday.bb 19/09/11
Going the extr
Victor Greene's jovial
spirit and courteous
nature endears him to
passengers using the
Transport Board.
Going the extr

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