Belize Bus Association President meets with P.M.
The protests were called off when the Prime Minister and the bus association sat down to dialogue. After that meeting at the P.M.’s Belize City office, the Belizean Bus Association and the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative agreed to a compromise.
Thomas Shaw, President, Belizean Bus Association
“He promised that he will resolve the situation and try to reinstate with a compromise B.B.O.C. back in the west.”
Patrick Jones, Love TV
“You went in with a seven point negotiation. Did you get what you were asking for?”
Thomas Shaw
“Well primarily, well ahm, we didn’t get to that. I told him about it. But we are having a press conference again at 2:30. I think the media will be invited and we go from there.”
Jules Vasquez, 7 News
“You are having or the Prime Minister is having?”
Thomas Shaw
Thomas Shaw
“We are having it along with the Prime Minister—it’s a joint press conference.”
Patrick Jones, Love TV
“So you are happy with what transpired just now with the meeting with the Prime Minister?”
Thomas Shaw
“Well a while ago, at least we got somewhere—we got somewhere and basically that is our discontent and all the operators as you see. So as I said after 2:30 we know where we go from there.”
Jules Vasquez, 7 News
“Now a lot of your membership wants to speak in absolute—we’ll try and resolve it, he’ll try and reinstate. I’m not hearing absolute, definitive terms. Will the runs be reinstated?”
Thomas Shaw
“Well they will be reinstated due to a compromise due to the fact that this guy had an investment. Mr. Frazer, he stated that they will compromise—he doesn’t mind if they share it half and half, but that’s where we stand at this moment.”
Jules Vasquez, 7 News
“Now the Carmelita people are still blocking the road and they say they are waiting for your ok to clear it. Will you call them and tell them clear they way?”
Thomas Shaw
“I did because like I said nothing last forever. I told them to clear the way as soon as we come out of this press conference. As it is right now, I’m going back to our members based on because nothing that we actually discussed up there isn’t final, okay. Nothing that we discussed up there a while ago was final.”
Jules Vasquez, 7 News
“When will it be final?”
Thomas Shaw
“Well when we have this press conference, the ministers of cabinet will be there and I think you guys will be invited to be part of it and we go from there.”
Julez Vasquez, 7 News
“So then I am correct in understanding things are still taking shape up there?”
Thomas Shaw
“Absolutely. Well I call them a while ago. It will be best due to the commuters—because we look at the commuter—it will be best for them to back off. And at least we got somewhere and the Prime Minister responded to us.”
Patrick Jones, Love TV
“So what are you going to go tell your members out there right now?”
Thomas Shaw
“Exactly what we had previously discussed up there. As I said, the negotiations isn’t finished. It is finished after the press conference, then we will know exactly. But I will get a feedback from my members. As I told them, I gave them the same way I gave the minister an ultimatum for twenty-one days, for twenty-four hours. It’s the same thing. I go back to members and if they are not satisfied with it, then this is what my members want and as the president I’m going to fight for it.”
Patrick Jones, Love TV
“Listing to you this morning, I get the feeling that you all have lost confidence in Minister Hulse as the Minister of Transport. Do you want him out of the way because you all believe that he has lied to you, betrayed you all? Are you still standing by that?’
Thomas Shaw
“I’m still standing by that. I would like to see him be removed and personally I think they should give more respect to the Commissioner and the Transport Board and take Mister Melvin Hulse and Miss Candelaria out of this.”
The stage was set for a press conference this afternoon to give time to the prime minister meet with select members of Cabinet. We’ll have a report on that later in the newscast.
my opinion? get cracking on bus owners and their drivers. i remember several years ago, there was an accident someone who fell out of an overcrowded bus on the cemetery road roundabout. it was revealed that the peson fell out because teh door of the bus was open while taking teh curve. for a while, busses kept their doors closed and passenegers to a reasonable amount. try travelling by bus now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! see how many passengers pay the same price for a ticket, while some sit, and others stand in the vehicle, which is already going so fast, they are able to overtake regular cars on the highway. buses shouldnt stop on a pedestrian walk……….buses shouldnt run through red lights, buses shouldnt stop in te middle of teh street/road when picking up/dropping off passengers……buses should not just take off after dropping off a pasenger, seemingly without teh driver checking to make sure traffic is clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! howe many times many of you have felt that you’ll be squeezed into oncoming traffic because a bus is pulling back onto teh road when you’re already overtaking him while he’s dropping off someone????????? come on people, these bus owners want their runs, but we want something in return as well………OBEY TRAFFIC LAWS, HAVE RESPECT FOR THE ROAD, TRY TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS. KEEP THE PEOPLE WHO USE YOUR SERVICES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T, SAFE FROM HARM.