Novelo brothers get injunction on northern route

And turning to the courts, Justice Samuel Awich has reserved ruling for next Friday in a case between David and Tony Novelo and their company National Transportation Services Limited against Chief Transport Officer, Candelaria Zaldivar and the Transport Board. The Novelo brothers, through their attorney, Lisa Shoman, are seeking permission for judicial review of the road service permits issued by the Transport Board. Since yesterday, Shoman has been arguing in Court that the permits were issued unlawfully and illegally because the Board never conducted adequate consultations with the Novelo’s before they implemented the new schedules. Shoman further argued that the Board is biased because two of its members, namely Leo Batty and John Flowers were part of the Receivership team when the Novelo’s Bus Service went broke. She has also contended that the Board has not followed procedures or the law in effecting the new system. Shoman told the court that the Board was appointed only in September and one month later they issued permits, suggesting that they already had plans before they took over. Shoman got an interim injunction to prevent the Board from proceeding with zoning the Northern route. Until Justice Awich makes his ruling next Friday, the Board is to do nothing at all with regard to that route. While Shoman is representing the Novelo’s and National Transports, Attorney Lois Young is representing Zaldivar and the Transport Board.