Taxi associations and fishermen at war in Haulover Creek
A tempest that was brewing since last week in the Haulover Creek, has turned out into a full blown storm with key players from the city and the islands joining forces with the fishermen to fight against the competition. Jose Sanchez has been following this story which we broke last week.
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
Round two of the battle got hostile this week between the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association and newly formed Belize Water Taxi Association, as it turned into a four one match with fishermen, a major water taxi association and a land taxi association, joining the fray to say that a new company must go.
Ramon Reyes Jr, President, Caye Caulker Water Taxi
“We are just trying to secure our business, business that has been started over thirty years ago. Members of our association, some of them are seventy and almost eighty years old working in this industry for so long; the water taxi industry and tourism. What we are afraid of is the destruction that it will cause to the tourism industry. We’re really disappointed with the tourism minister, who we have been talking to about this matter from April, from before these guys invested a dollar. We have been talking to him and he’s guaranteed us in a minuted meeting that this would not occur, that they would not be granted clearance because of the very fact that he is the tourism minister and they can’t allow this to happen.”
But it did happen. Myron Marin and company already gave us the grand tour of their office. Though their request to operate in their current location was initially rejected of June twenty-fifth by Major Lloyd Jones, Ports Commissioner because of the congestion, Myron Marin has now been granted a one year permit since the congestion was cleared up yesterday by removing some of the fishermen’s boat from the river.
Major Lloyd Jones, Ports Commissioner (16 July, 2008)
“We also have water taxis operating in the area. Over the years the sizes of the water taxi have increased. I think they started off with thirty-eight footers and now they have moved on to, I believe, forty-nine footers. We understand that there are orders for vessels as large as fifty-five footers. Like I said, the river belongs to all of us so should I displace one of the parties or should we try and work, find common ground where we can all enjoy the space together.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you think they were given their permit because of family relations?”
Ramon Reyes Jr.
“Well, I can say that the minister’s nephew is Myron Marin, who is one of the owners along with the Chinese investors. They were the registered owners, Giovanni Marin has no shares in that business.”
President of the land taxi association, Chester Haylock, says that they have families to feed and bills to pay.
Chester Haylock, President, Caye Caulker Taxi Association
“School fees are very high, light bill is high, phone bill is high, cable bill; everything is high in Belize. Gas price keeps going up and that is one of the main reasons why I am out here; so that I can get bread to put on my table to feed my children. The other reason I’m here is to support my association along with the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association and the fisherman them.”
One of the persons say they have a beef with is John Gideon, who solicits business for the new company.
John Gideon, Employee, Belize Water Taxi Terminal
“I go and give good service and tell people about the good ride weh dehn wah get and di good ride weh dehn wah get. It’s competition all about it yoh know. I noh know eh dehn di go on up and thing but everything good and we wah stay strong because competition is everything you know.”
Now that the issue has reached boiling point, long time competition from across the river, Triple J, has come out in full support of the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association.
Jose Sanchez
“Mr. Marin, it’s unusual to see Triple J and the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association together. Why are you here today?”
Jason Marin, Triple J
“We decided that we have to mek wah stand and we have to try protect fi we industry. We deh inna dis business fi seventeen years.”
A bone of contention on the waterfront is that the competition involves big interests.
Jason Marin
“I don’t see it right fi mek Belizeans di front fi some Chiney man weh di fund this whole thing because di three stars company, majority ah di shares, dah Chiney man own it. I know because I buy wah boat from dehn and da neva Myron Marin, dah di Chiney man I had to deal with; Wang and di next one from New World pan Barracks Road.”
The vote seems unanimous amongst the fishermen, the Caye Caulker Water Taxi Association and Tripple J. They would be happy if this new company would simply move a bit further away up the street, to the recent loser in another turf war, Brown Sugar.
Jason Marin
“But if they want support to open dehn thing, mek dehn open dehn thing. Go dah Brown sugar or one ah dehn next place.”
Jose Sanchez
“Do you want him gone?”
Chester Haylock
“We want him gone yes. Move away from here. go somewhere else. Put up his water taxi somewhere else down di street from us, across the water from us, by di barracks, anywhere else.”
Jose Sanchez
“Where do you want these people to go?”
Protesting Taxi Driver
“Mek dehn go dah Brown Sugar. Tourist Village done noh want give dehn wah lee end ah di pie. Dehn suppose to set up shop dah Brown Sugar mein. Set up shop deh mek Brown Sugar mek wah lee end cause we noh di stop nobody from mek wah end right but den dis to close mein. Ih too close.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is it fair to say you don’t want them on your block, on your territory?”
Protesting Taxi Driver
“I noh want dehn pan my block. I name it and I claim it. I noh want dehn pan my block, simple.”
The shareholders of the Belize Water Taxi Terminal kept their heads cool about the protest inside their air conditioned offices as outside their workers continued to put the finishing touches on their brand new sign. Reporting for News Five, Jose Sanchez.
