When we left you last night it was with the encouraging news that the prospects looked good for a compromise in the bus crisis. Official word from Belmopan yesterday afternoon was that nine runs had been agreed upon for the for Belize Bus Owners Cooperative in the west - and 8 more were being finalized in the north.
That was a sign of real progress - but tonight, the whole deal is in serious jeopardy. That's because it's a situation where it seems the Ministry of Transport basically has to rob from Peter to pay Paul - meaning they have to take runs from established Western Operators to give to the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative.
One of those western operators is Guerra's bus line - and he says, he wasn't consulted and he's not having it. Nonetheless, this afternoon, the ministry of transport sent him a quite curt letter informing him that, quote: "your schedule has been amended and the following temporary road service permits have been withdrawn."
As straight as that; without prior notice or consultation. Additionally, it's a move which makes it clear that bus runs can be cancelled "just like that"- which the Prime Minister had indicated was not an option with Westline Bus Service because government would be taken to court.
But it seems no such consideration was given in the case of the Guerra's - who fired back a letter to the ministry in no time making it clear that they categorically oppose the cancellation, that they were not consulted at any time, and that if any operators runs are to be cut, it should be the newcomer, Westline.
Speaking with the press this afternoon, Shaw said he saw this coming - and that's why he has taken a different position from the Chairman of the Belize bus owners cooperative, Claude Frazer:…
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Mr. Claude Frazer is the BBOC, but I am the president and I got to oversee that all my operators are being treated evenly. The Minister stated that.... I ask him what impact it would have in the west, if they are supposed to reinstate BBOC in the west and who would be affected and he said that they manage to pull two runs from D and E and two runs from Guerra. After that meeting I call Mr. Guerra and I ask him if he is willing to forfeit any runs and he said 'Mr. Shaw, I don't know anything about this' he said that it was news to him. The Minister said and I quote 'Mr. Shaw, you get out of that because Guerra bus line is there, but they have like several brothers and they come to him individually' so I call again and I said Guerra what I need you to do is consult with your other brothers and see if they forfeit any runs and he did so and he gave me a call stating that none of them are willing to forfeit any runs in the west. Base on that - we have some members over there from the BBOC that actually stated that Mr. Frazer is acting on his own and he is not consulting with his members, so base on that I had a press release at 12:30 and about 1:30 Mr. Guerra call me stating that he got a call from the department of transport that he is supposed to come in. Now you see how this thing is going. Mr. Guerra wasn't aware of what was taking place yesterday and after I break the news at 12:30 they gave him a call at 1:30 saying that he is supposed to go in - which is quite unfair and I see it as conquer and divide and they are trying to break up something that is worthwhile."
Jules Vasquez
"What will happen next then that Mr. Guerra won't accept and BBOC expects to start running tomorrow. What will happen tomorrow?"
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Well we go back to square one. I would like Mr. Rufus to read that for me."
Rufus X
"All Belize bus operators' cooperative road service permits be restored and all Westline bus service permits be suspended/revoke with immediate effect."
Jules Vasquez
"Is Westline being made to give up any runs in this reshuffling of runs?"
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Yesterday when they were offered the five runs from the east to west Mr. Frazer which is the Chairman of the BBOC - he wanted the first runs out of Belize City. The CEO then stated that Mr. Chuc has already surrendered the permits for those runs - the runs that they have been given. Now in reality Mr. Chuc wasn't there to actually represent and I don't know who is actually representing but that came from the CEO and the runs that they were given was from 10 to 12 o' clock going west and this is the situation that is actually taking place right now that the members are not in agreement with it and....."
Jules Vasquez
"Those are low volume runs?"
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"They are not viable."
Jules Vasquez
"Meaning that the busses will not be fill. When are the attractive runs?"
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Well it's the first run coming out of the city and I think BBOC since they have been there - they should be making the demands ok and they shouldn't be offered anything - they should be making the demands as to what they actually want."
Jules Vasquez
"So now would we have another situation on the roads tomorrow morning similar to what happen on Friday?"
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"No, I am going to try to get in touch with the Prime Minister as I did and see how he can intervene once again because as I speak I can see the Ministers they have a portfolio but it seems as if though they can't handle it and every time a situation arise the Prime Minister has to intervene, so basically what you are seeing clearly is that some of these ministers needs to go, because if you are my boss and you give me a job and to every time you have to come and do my job then it's time for me to leave."
Jules Vasquez
"I get the impression there is a schism of sorts - a divide between you and Mr. Frazer - am I right, you are not of the same mind at this time. Basically you have most of the time leaders in our community and not followers and as I said I started this initiation and negotiation process - I actually took away quite a bit from my time to really get this far and at the end of the day I am a bit disappointed because he is settling for anything and as I see it I was not just fighting for BBOC. Mr. Frazer must understand that I have other members that I am accountable for and not because you get what you want I am going to settle for it unless all my members are being treated evenly then we are on the same page."
Vaughan Gill
"What can the commuters expect from this evening tomorrow in a nutshell?"
Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Well to be honest with you I wouldn't take the commuters by surprise once more. I know that we need to move forward and I really thank the Prime Minister for his intervention. That made something would have come to an amicable solution but as I speak I am asking once again to intervene."
By our reading of the letter, The Guerra runs were cancelled effective today - and the BBOC runs to replace them should start tomorrow morning - so we'll see how that goes….
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