Back on the road: 9 lives of David and Tony Novelo
But all is not lost for the Novelo brothers, Tony and David. Like cats, they apparently have nine lives. It’s not the first time that a company of theirs went into receivership. If you recall, Novelos Bus Company also fell into receivership and when they lost that business, they created National Transport. And although National Transport is not operating any bus service, the Novelo brothers, using another of its nine lives, are still on the road under the names Belize Metro and Belize Intransit. The owner of Lopez Shuttle believes that it’s not right.
Carlos Lopez, Owner Lopez Shuttle
carlos lopez
“The issue I’m facing is that I was informed on Saturday night by the person in charge of traffic for me to get more buses for my route because they will leave me on the route I am on which is the route that I pioneer. Not to interfere with other routes. The person, Mister Kevin Jenkins, told me not to operate any buses in the Fabers Road or King’s Park Areas because they will facilitate other providers to operate those routes. So I told him no problem. This morning to my dismay one of my drivers called and said Mister Lopez there are some othyer buses out here and when I came out here I found out that Novelos have hired three buses to operate on my route. The three buses that are currently operating on my route are one skai bus, one bus from space line in Ladyville and another school/church bus.”
Jose Sanchez
“But haven’t they been placed on receivership?”
Carlos Lopez
“They have been placed in receivership and I am trying to find what is going on. I called Mister Kevin Jenkins. He said that his hands are tied, he got instructions from hirer authorities—I won’t call names—to facilitate Novelos to continue to operate on my route and also to operate in Faber’s Road and Belama.”
Jose Sanchez
“The other routes—new routes were issued I understand. Who were these given to?”
Carlos Lopez
“Well the new facilitator of the new routes according to my paper that I have here: National Transport were supposed to be given Faber’s Road, King’s Park and West Landivar. Mister Haylock Bus Service should be given Belama route. Lemoth Bus Service, Port Loyola and there were intentions of putting me in the lake Independence Area which I have contested all the way. I actually have my lawyer working on an injunction to get this case solved.”
Jose Sanchez
“Just clarify for me. National Transport has been placed into receivership but you are saying that Novelo’s brothers are still operating?”
Carlos Lopez
“This morning, Mister Philip Jones—I’ll quote him directly—called the radio and said that National Transport is in receivership, but their company Belize Intransit and Belize Metro have the right to City Bus which I know for a fact is not so because the document I have here say clear National Transport doing Faber’s road, King’s Park and West Landivar. So they are just trying to play cat and mouse.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is it true that Novelo’s is still operating buses?”
Phillip Jones, Former Operations Officer, National Transport
philip jones
“Yes we are still operating buses. As of this morning we have restored back City runs through the course of alternate sources with bus providers. National Transport, I would just like to set the record straight, National Transport has nothing to do with Belize Intransit. Belize Intransit and Metro are separate company. However, the receiver still went out Friday and approached all the buses, took away the cash, take away passengers off the bus and escort the bus to a private compound.”
Jose Sanchez
“Are you infringing on the rights of other bus drivers like Mr. Lopez?”
Phillip Jones
“No. Mr. Lopez has a permit. The city permit is different and separate from the highway. The highway is national traffic and the city is for the Belize City council awarded routes. However, Mr. Lopez only has one route in the City and we have the majority runs in the city so the National Transport has nothing to do with Belize Intransit.”
If you have any doubt about who owns Belize Transit and Belize Metro, a release they put out today says that they have “resumed regular service bus runs in Belize City.” The release also says that they “are providing full city services, via buses which have been leased to provide the same level of safe and reliable service to those Belizeans who trust and have supported Belize Intransit and Belize Metro.”
Sounds like they are about to be bailed out again. Look out taxpayers..
What makes me laugh is dat deez two brothers got 30 million in one day from DFC. There is no way that they spent even 7 million on the old rickety buses they usd to run or on the luxury buses they reserved for tourists. Deh bally mussi either stash di money outside once dey realize dat it was just too much work to pay the installments on the loans from DFC and from Belize Bank so they just let the business crumble. That way the recievers can auction off the company assets or run the business to recoup creditors’ monies while the Novelo brothers enjoy the money they have already banked outside of belize. it no right bcos the workers don’t get paid while the bosses have relieved themselves from the effort of runnig the business.
WELL AT THE END OF THE DAY THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SUFFER ARE THE WORKERS AND COMMUTERS AND MR. LOPEZ SHOLD BE LOCKED AWAY CAUSE HE IS A MAD MAN HE IS OBSESS WITH THE METRO DRIVERS FROM WEST LANDIVAR I CATCH BUS EVERYDAY SO I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT. BELIZE METRO AND INTRANSIT ARE NOT IN RECEIVERSHIP SO MR. LOPEZ NEED TO GET THAT STRAIGHT HE NEEDS TO BE PUT IN A STRAIGHT JACKET AND ESCORTED TO CRAZY HOUSE.
well here we go again, lets see how long it takes for them to go into recievership again. Someone mark the date.
Connections people, it’s all about connections and protection. The rich are too connected to fail.
People of Belize don’t let this receivership crap fool you. The owners of these company are following in the ways of the Chinese——- make their money ,send it out of China so that when the Government shut down their businesses they have their assets already stashed away and as they say one foot in China ,one foot out. These business owners like Novelo and Espat will never be poor and destitute——- (THATS WHY THERES OFF-SHORE BANKING
They couldn’t run a bath, let alone a business. Time they were barred from ever running any kind of business in Belize again – and repay everything they scammed from the taxpayer – plus full interest – at 18% or more, which the banks happily charge……….
But first things first, they should be forced to pay the workers in full, or face jail………(Lose the key once they are behind bars, please!).
Novelos pay the people their money.. GOB stop protecting the rich…. and Lopez get real get more responsible drivers on your buses and stop breaking the laws on every turn. your buses are driven by maniacs.
Wow they do have nine lives. I would NOVELOS, pay your loan and Pay back DFC.
How come we even allow the Novelos to start another business to go belly up. Pay me back my tax money!…pay back the 30M DFC loan! Your business endeavors will forever be cursed until you do the right thing the right way! Selfishness, greed and pride go straight to hell!
How come we even allow the Novelos to start another business to go belly up. Pay me back my tax money!…pay back the 30M DFC loan! Your business endeavors will forever be cursed until you do the right thing the right way! Selfishness, greed and pride go straight to hell!
I quote from Jones – “I would just like to set the record straight, National Transport has nothing to do with Belize Intransit. Belize Intransit and Metro are separate company.”
If that is true, those companies aren’t owned by the Novelo brothers…. Is that true, and if so, who owns them?
They are owned by the Novelos, and therefore are Novelos assets, regardless of the sham company name. Belize bank receivers should haul thier assets in to towards the payment of the loans.
There is one good thing about this, and the Luke Espat receiverships (well, two, as with luck, he will lose the Port of Belize soon) – We all are now and finally in no doubt about who looks out for who. Government has said nothing, so obviously is getting ready to bail them out, and the PUP aren’t saying anything, as their corruption got us into this mess in the first place!!!!!!
Rich covering for the rich at the expense of the rest of us. The next general election will be an interesting one, that’s for sure, as I doubt if belizeans will ever truct PUP or UDP ever again. I pray that this all has opened our eyes once and for all to the truth of things and the level of corruption that is about us.
daveyt:
“The next general election will be an interesting one, that’s for sure, as I doubt if belizeans will ever truct PUP or UDP ever again”
There is no credible alternative, as yet, to unseat PUDP….realistically either blue or red will get in again. I will refuse to vote come elections if this situation remains. Wont make a damn bit of difference, but at least I will have a clean conscience.