The impact of the rising cost of fuel was cited as the main factor that prompted several hire car drivers who ply the Crane/Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling route to commence an intense strike action yesterday.The strike action, which commenced as early as 07:30 hours, forced scores of passengers to trek the almost mile-long Crane Old Road to the main access road in order to access transportation.And though saddened by the fact that they had to deprive their passengers,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, some of whom were in some cases their own family members, the drivers claimed that the move was imperative if the issue of a much needed fare increase is to be addressed.They pointed out that the cost of gasoline has, for some time,NFL Jerseys Cheap, been a burden to them, and they noted that the recent escalation beyond $1,000 per gallon is more than they can bear.“The gas is, for over a week now,Cheap NFL Football Jerseys, more than $1,000 a gallon, and we’re feeling the heat. All we’re asking for is $20 more on the fare, and we don’t think that is bad. The Government had promised that when the gas reach that amount the fare would raise, but nothing ain’t doing…,” one of the drivers opined.It is the expectation of the drivers that they would be allowed to make it compulsory for adults to pay $80, older children $60, and younger children $40.“Some people are willing to pay, but we just want this to be an official thing and we want people to know that we don’t work for anything much when the day comes…“We are working for nothing; you put in $2000 gas in you tank and you can’t even mek back the money…We really want people to know what is we position.”But, in addition to the alarming rise in fuel prices, the drivers are claiming that their efficient operation is being tested by the deteriorating condition of the Crane Old Road for several years now.They are claiming that the cost of maintaining their vehicles on the deplorable road has been expensive, even as they added that vehicle parts as well are on the rise.“The cost of used tyres was $3,500, but it is now $4,500; CV joints, ball joints and steering ends — all these things going bad fast on this road,Wholesale Soccer Jerseys, and we can’t afford to keep changing these parts with the rising prices…This is how we does get we daily bread. We got wife and children to send to school,” the drives lamented.According to the drivers, on numerous occasions they had complained to the Regional Chairman about the state of the road. He simply organised the placement of ‘crusher run’ on the road,Cheap Wholesale Jerseys, which according to them does not in any improve the state of the road.For this reason, they say, they will not be “wasting their time to visit the chairman.”However, the Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber, had informed this newspaper that plans for the complete restoration of the road will be undertaken by Central Government through an Inter-American Development Bank project, which he has no control of.He noted,Wholesale Jerseys Authentic, though, that the region is responsible for the current construction of a $3.8M bridge at Crane, which is currently 85 per cent completed.Mr Faerber had disclosed that although the structure is accessible to pedestrians and small vehicles, it is undergoing a curing process.And while the concrete bridge may mean development for the community of Crane,Cheap NFL Jerseys, the drivers are adamant that the incomplete state of the bridge for over six weeks now is also a great hindrance to their operation.The strike had not been going on for a full hour when workmen turned up at the bridge site, giving assurance to the drivers that they will ensure that it would be completed within a week’s time.According to the foreman of the work, the bridge was curing for a period of 21 days and therefore they could not have completed its surface.