Turf war among Water Taxi Associations rages on
There is new development in the ongoing turf war between the water taxi associations as just when it seemed that the matter had been resolved, a new snag has re-ignited the flames of this raging battle that just won’t go away. Jose Sanchez has the story from the Swing Bridge.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
It appeared that the Water Taxi protest had finally come to an end today as Ramon Reyes, gave thanks to the mayor and government for removing the boats of their new competitor from the area.
Ramon Reyes Jr, President, Caye Caulker Water Taxi Assn.
“I think the city should be proud to have a mayor like that who stands up on her principles and stands up for what she believes in. She is the mayor of this city and she can see the congestion. She sees the problem that was gonna happen, she sees what would occur. We’re glad that even the government re-thought the issue and made their decision. So it’s good for us and it’s good for tourism. It’s good for everyone, it’s for all our members who have been working so hard.”
Myron Marin, part owner of the taxi terminal, was not happy and he says that they complied with every condition expected of him in a permit signed by the Ports Commissioner.
Myron Marin, Co-owner Belize Water Taxi Terminal
“I have right here where it says please be advise that above conditions, if breached, shall be grounds for the revocation of this approval. In no way did I breach any of this so I don’t see how they can come and they can say that this was a mistake when it’s quite clear that this letter is from the board of directors of the Belize Port Authority. They had to sit down and they hade to make a decision on how to deal with this issue. It’s quite obvious that they did, they found solutions to deal with the matter and obviously like with the surveys done behind there, something hadn’t been done. They even have a turning point now for the vessels from here and from there so that we can work together.”
But they were unable to work together. They can have their offices next to the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association, but they aren’t allowed to operate their boats from that same location. According to Ports Commissioner, Major Jones, his board had second thoughts.
Jose Sanchez
“Was there a mistake?”
Major Lloyd Jones, Ports Commissioner
“Well, that is certainly the position of the board. The board in its approval earlier last week, granted approval for them to conduct the operations and it is my understanding that the intent was not for them to operate from that location. I think therein lies the problem because obviously it’s right next to the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association. yesterday they had a meeting and at that meeting they agreed to reverse that decision; not to withdraw or revoke the permission for them to operate but for them to do it from a different locastion.”
Jose Sanchez
“If you take a look at the letter that the Belize Water Taxi was given, the first point of condition of six said they have a right to operate at eighty-one North front Street where their current office is. They say they haven’t broken any of the six conditions that they were suppose to operate under.”
Major Lloyd Jones
“I agree that the conditions that were laid out; the six conditions, that there have been no breach of those conditions. The board, having reviewed this matter, felt that the permission granted was not for them to operate from that location and therefore they sought to correct that.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now you’re saying they can have their office at eighty-one North Front Street but if they want any passengers they have to take them from Brown Sugar. Is that correct?”
Major Lloyd Jones
“Well, what has happened is that the authority has established a control zone near to the vicinity of the Swing Bridge and the new operators are free to conduct their operations anywhere other than within that control zone.”
Chester Haylock, President, Belize Marine Terminal Taxi Assn.
“So far we feel good about the situation. But what we would really want dah fi dehn move the whole office, everything from here because by the office sitting here we still having a little bit of problem with the guys dehn weh di try scalp di people dehn from here and di try sell di ticket and den dehn transport di people inna taxi over to Brown Sugar.”
Jose Sanchez
“If everything moves over to Brown Sugar; the office as well as the boats, will that make you happy?”
Chester Haylock
“I’m sure that would make me happy and the water taxi happy.”
Brown Sugar has been unable to operate because of the wall between it and the Tourism Village. Operating from that location would be an economic death sentence for the owners of the Belize Water Taxi Terminal.
Myron Marin
“Brown sugar, like I said, right now is over there, we chose to be here. This is where we found the ideal spot to compete in this business and in no way can anybody tell me there is a law stating that two companies cannot be side by side offering the same service.”
Jose Sanchez
“These people came, they refurbished the Regent building, they put in AC, they have nice flat screen TV’s, they bought a couple boats. They did all of these renovations to operate from eight-one North Front Street, now you say you made a mistake. How do you tell that to these people after they invested so much?”
Major Lloyd Jones
“I think it must be made clearly that the investments were done prior to their application to the Port Authority. This was not done subsequent to the approval. We only gave—I think the letter was sent out last Wednesday or Thursday and I can’t recall exactly. But the investment in terms of the infrastructure was done way before they came to the board to apply.”
Jose Sanchez
“So the fight is not over?”
Myron Marin
“NO!”
And no sooner than we left their office, Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association President, Ramon Reyes Jr, let us know that they have already received a return blow from a representative of the new water taxi terminal.
Ramon Reyes Jr, President, Caye Caulker Water Taxi Assn.
“Today we learned that Mr. Giovanni Marin, who is a member of the trade licensing committee in San Pedro, took out his trade licence committee at our location at Wet Willie’s in san Pedro and one of their suggestions was to move Caye Caulker Water Taxi from that area. They are saying because there is congestion. We don’t understand how there is congestion when we are almost on the outskirts of the island, when the location that he is operating at where we were before is right down town and is congested. So we don’t understand, we want to know if it’s something personal from Giovanni. He has a lot of power and he’s using his power to give us some trouble in San Pedro and remove us from the pier that we just moved to. He kicked us out and we moved to a pier and now he’s trying to remove us from that.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you think this is because the Belize Water Taxi Terminal had just had their permits to have their boats berth right next to you here in Belize City rejected?”
Myron Marin
“Absolutely, it’s the same player; Giovanni Marin. The name is all over the place. He’s a very powerful person in San Pedro and it’s obvious that today this is happening and he has been attacking us ever since from day one.”
The battle continues in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and right next to the swing bridge in Belize City. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
