Taxi men and Govt. head toward compromise

The dispute, which came to such a dramatic climax early Tuesday morning on the highway east of Benque Viejo, now appears a little closer to a peaceful resolution. A release from the Ministry of Transport claims that after a three hour meeting with taxi drivers Tuesday evening in Belmopan, officials have agreed to reduce the number of runs each of two bus companies are allowed to make from San Ignacio to the Belize border. Although the release does not offer exact numbers, Government believes it will be enough to allow Benque and San Ignacio taxi drivers to make a living off the border trade. Whether the taxi drivers agree is yet to be determined as Taxi Association President Manuel Santos is said to be still canvassing his members. Meanwhile in another press release issued this afternoon the Human Rights Commission of Belize has condemned the action of the police at Tuesday’s demonstration. The release cites intimidation and threats to an HRCB representative and a reporter as well as the striking of a peaceful demonstrator by police officers. But according to eyewitnesses as well as video tapes shown on this newscast the police unit appeared to show extreme restraint in a tense situation and only went into action when peaceful negotiations were scuttled by intransigent taxi operators who refused to move their vehicles from blocking the road. One is left to wonder whose rights the HRCB is protecting as a thorough search of the Belize Constitution reveals no right to block public highways or to pelt police officers with sticks and stones.