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160 workers at National Transport Bus Company could be out of a job by Christmas. The company announced today that because the Transport Department has slashed its runs, they now have to slash staff. And so the jobs of 160 drivers, conductors, mechanics, and supervisors are on the chopping block. The company says the new zoning rules have stripped its runs in the south, Ladyville, and in the west – leaving close to one hundred buses in the parking lot. Operations Manager Phillip Jones says they have no choice but to terminate workers.

Phillip Jones, Operations Manager – National Transport
“We have lost 70% of the market share of runs that we have. For instance in Ladyville we had ten buses running every 15 minutes from 5 to 9 and in the southern area we had a total of 32 runs including Punta Gorda, Placencia, Dangriga to Belize. We have lost 100% of the 32 runs and in the western area we had a total of 52 runs and we have lost half those runs in the western area. So we are at a position that the company cannot continue to sustain the workers that we have been doing since October 19th until now.

At this point and time, the position national is financially we cannot continue to sustain the majority of workers that we had so we will have to start the process today to evaluate and do the unthinkable.”

Larissa Madrill, Human Resources Manager
“The unthinkable is releasing these staff that have been with the company for many many years. It is hard knowing they have worked with us for many years, they have their families that they have to sustain and they have become like a family to us and we have to do the unthinkable by releasing them from our company.”

Keith Swift,
How many people are we looking at?

Larissa Madrill,
“Roughly like about 160 employees countrywide.”

Keith Swift,
It is two weeks before Christmas, why now?

Phillip Jones,
“Well financially Keith our company is not in a position to sustain over 160 employees. Presently we have lost 70% of our market share, leaving us with 30%. We have approximately 350 employees. Besides the workers that we have excess right now, we have over 100 buses right now parked Keith in Benque and in Belize you can see a lot of buses still in the compound not doing any runs presently.

So that’s besides employees. I mean we have no other choice, no other resort but it is imminent right now to do the unthinkable. I know it is Christmas time and it is very hard. My heart goes out to all employees because we are a family here; we have management, I don’t think I probably may be here tomorrow, Miss Larissa, we have the garage staff, we have supervisors, and continue to sustain it.”

Jones assures us the company isn’t bluffing and that unless the Transport Department rethinks its decision, 160 people will be sent home – right at Christmas. The matter is already in the hands of the Supreme Court since there is a case for judicial review pending as it relates to the runs in the north and Ladyville. That won’t be heard until March. In the meantime, the Chief Transport Officer had no comment.

It is worth nothing that exactly three years ago, on December 21 of 2005, when the Novelo’s receivership collapsed, 318 employees were left jobless.