7 News Belize

Bus Problems Won’t Go Away
posted (June 10, 2011)
Three weeks ago - everything seemed cool in the bus industry - as the Ministry of Transport had agreed to a three-week stay on the new northern bus runs. Of course, since then - everything has been decidedly not-cool - with major unrest and discontent unfolding in the transport industry.

And today as the 21 day deadline ended - the Belize Bus association held a press conference to say it is not happy, it's position and that of its membership have been misrepresented, and it's not going to go away quietly. President Shaw spoke first and then the secretary spoke second with a new list of demands:…

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Today we are once again in this crisis. Once again on the brink of chaos and confusion. We have reach this point because once again the amateurs - the politicians have sort to fix what was not broken. To interfere where they have no business. To impose without consultation. To dictate in what should be a democracy. We are saying to the Prime Minister - some sit down and discuss the matter in good faith."

Jennine Hamilton, Secretary BBA
"The Prime Minister has stated that he will not re-visit the situation with the bus operators because an agreement has already been made and it is only one operator who is not satisfied but we ate here today to say that that is not so. Of the four operators being affected in the west - three are not satisfied meanwhile Westline continues to be accommodated. Yes an agreement was made, however it was made base on the lies and deception of either the Minister, the CEO, the Chairman of the Board and or all of the above. We believe that the Prime Minister have again been misled when he stated there is only one northern operator in our association namely Venus Bus Line - that is a lie. The BBA consists of ten registered northern operators - three of which are larger carriers on the highway. It seems to us that the Prime Minister is applauding the negligence of the Transport Minister and his officials by stating that he will not remove Westline from its current runs even though he knows that it is infringing on the livelihoods of many Belizean workers and their families. We therefore resolve to the following:"

1. All original schedules must return to that which existed before May 22, 2011.

2. Westline must be move to the 10pm - 4:30am slot east to west and 6pm - 2am west to east schedule. Since the Minister stated that he would like to provide a 24 hour service and those are the only runs that are available at this time.

3. All northern operators' original schedules must be immediately return and respected.

Reporter
"Government has made very clear that they are not open to a re-negotiate. Can you set a standard in so to speak in terms of a direction - as we saw the roads being block and what happen up north, Can the Belizean public look forward to further direct action."

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"I can't speak for all my members but I can assure you as a person of transparency I will go back to my members and my members will decide where they go from there."

Jules Vasquez
"So what will happen next?"

Patrick Menzies
"What will happen next is that the Belizeans that stand up for justice and for what is right in the country will continue standing up and will even move the standing up to another level of standing up. In other words...."

Jules Vasquez
"Will they do so at your request? I am saying what will make them do so?"

Patrick Menzies
"When it occurs then you ask the question."

Jules Vasquez
"And if it fails to occur?"

Patrick Menzies
"Then I guess it won't occur. You will see."

Menzies has asked for citizens to show their support by flaying Belizean flags upside down. And while the rhetoric was strong, the showing was weak as only Chell's, D and E, Cabrera's and Mesh bus lines were present. Notably, BBOC was not present….

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