7 News Belize

Bus Owners Stage Massive, Simultaneous, Coordinated Shutdown Of Highways
posted (May 27, 2011)
Early this morning, Belizeans all over the country awoke to a country in crisis - or at least in paralysis: highways in the north and central areas were blocked off in multiple areas while in the South major lines were not running.

The blockage was the result of direct action taken by the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative and the Belize Bus association. As we reported, on Tuesday, they made demands of the Ministry of Transport which were rejected yesterday.

With that the Bus operators planned a direct and massive attack on the country's highway system. 7news was first on the scene when it started at 4:30 this morning on the northern highway - Jules Vasquez has a detailed report:….

Jules Vasquez Reporting
When we arrived at mile seven on the northern highway Police pulled up shortly after and raced off, presumably for their support which was waiting for the fire to start at the Haulover bridge between the four busses we saw an almost otherworldly glow and on the road lighting up the dawn with furious intensity a tyre bonfire. It issued a thick cloud of black smoke smothering the early morning light and made for a dramatic, early morning statement police were forced to go off road to get across that stretch of the highway as the fire was in a powerful free burn. Already drivers were being sent back. Really it was only a few tires maybe about seven - but the effect they had was overpowering.

And from dawn the message they sent was unmistakable the BBOC was serious about getting back its runs.

We left that scene to go to Hattieville- at the cornel English bridge where the busses were lined off and fresh tires were going on a fire - which had been burning for about an hour with more fuel on the read - the fire belched out black smoke in huge mushrooming clouds.

Cyclists made it across - but not even birds could fly low and everything was fuel for the fire causing it to spread across the road in full majestic free burn - the future as unclear as the bursts of acrid black smoke sent up like distress signals.

Remarkably with all this happening for hours - police presence was light - they were almost letting the BBOC have its way - Superintendent Alford Grinage, head of the Patrol Branch came to assess the scene commuters on the other side of the fire, the western side looked on helplessly.

All they could do was wait - same for the vehicles, while the fire put on a show. The BBOC busses forming a second line of resistance and BBOC personnel sitting defiantly on top of the busses.

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"We have the whole country... there are no buses coming from the south, nothing coming out of the west. The minister told one of our representatives that we have no backbone. How do you like us now Mr. Minister. We are showing you we have the backbone. Where is your manhood, where you can say that you gave us word and you stand up like a man and you stick with your word. Where is your backbone?"

John Brackett, CIFOS
"This has been going on this morning from a quartet to 4. I get to understand that these people will want to take plan C if the Prime Minister doesn't intervene. What plan C will be like. I believe it will be very disastrous and so therefore the organization is asking the Prime Minister to intervene in this and let's come to the table and let's get back the BBOC on their runs."

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"We need to start feeding our families, we have bills piling up on us and we need to start working again so that we can start paying our bills so let's stand and tell these people in government that they were elected by the people. We are their bosses and they must listen to us and they have to stop this nonsense of taking advantage of people. We want to get back our runs on the west. We want to go there. They want to give Mr. Chuc runs - give him the runs in the north and let's see what's going to happen in the north. Send Mr. Chuc that side. Why send us there? Let Mr. Chuc and whoever is behind him go there."

Jules Vasquez
"Earlier in the week you told me that you have bank obligations and I am sure that you have a family. Aren't you afraid? You could end up being arrested here."

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"This is all part of t Jules. We are standing here fighting for our bread and butter."

Maria Rodriguez, BBOC Bus Owner
"I just want to plea to the Prime Minister to do something. When PUP did this to us we went to the Prime Minister for advice. He was then the Leader of the Opposition and he told us to block Hattieville, we will fill all your busses, you need legal representation - I will do that. So today I am asking you Mr. Prime Minister to please intervene for us. You can do that for us. You know how many families are here without food. We have bills to pay; you cannot do that to us - not now."

Jules Vasquez
"Now ma'am I see you our here in a red shirt."

Maria Rodriguez, BBOC Bus Owner
"Because I am a UDP. I campaign for Castro. I am a UDP and I will not back down from that."

Jules Vasquez
"But if you are a UDP you would block the road."

Maria Rodriguez, BBOC Bus Owner
"Excuse me; will Mr. Hulse pay me $300 that the cooperative has been paying me? How will I pay my bills?"

Jules Vasquez
"Now ma'am you are a law abiding citizen, you are a business person and as you said you are a UDP. It has to be a hard set of circumstances to do something illegal as what you are doing here."

Maria Rodriguez, BBOC Bus Owner
"Exactly, because this is my bread and butter and I told someone that if I have to die fighting for this then this will be it. If I have to climb on top of the bus with Karina then I will do that. I am not moving, I am not afraid. I will not move. I said this to Mr. Musa years ago in 2007 that I am not afraid and I will say it now - I am not afraid."

And they had the support of commuters who had mixed feelings

John Brackett, CIFOS
"Right now maximum support from the public, no one is frustrated when it comes to the commuters. Everyone is satisfied and dissatisfy at the same time with the decision that the Minister of Transport have made."

Commuter
"I think we as Belizeans we need to stop sit down and make the government walk over us. They have to realize that it is us that put them there and it is us the people of Belize that are the government. So they can't just walk over us and put what they want in front of us. I am happy with the association or BBOC who are doing this today."

Jules Vasquez
"Are you inconvenience by it?"

Commuter
"Well it is inconvenience everybody but as I said that we all have to take a stand, we all have to unite together."

Jules Vasquez
"Where were you guys heading?"

Commuter
"We were going to Chetumal."

Jules Vasquez
"Explain to me what happen. You can't make it."

Commuter
"We can't make it because of this fire thing here big man."

Jules Vasquez
"So you are not with it?"

Commuter
"I am not with it. We are the Youth for the Future crowd."

Commuter
"When I left from my house I see the smoke."

Jules Vasquez
"But you know why they have the road of fire like that?"

Commuter
"It's the bus company."

Jules Vasquez
"And how you feel about it?"

Commuter
"Bad."

Jules Vasquez
"You want to reach to your work."

Commuter
"Yes, I want to reach to work."

Jules Vasquez
"So you don't support them how they have the road block?"

Commuter
"No. I don't support them at all."

Driver
"I was going to work but I am stuck right here. I have to see what time they will open the road."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you know why they have the road of fire like that?"

Driver
"It's concerning the green busses. I think the minister is taking away their runs."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you support them in....?"

Driver
"I am out of politics, they are "politricks"

Commuter
"We can't reach at work and I am supposed to reach at work for 7 o' clock. I was trying to get in contact with my supervisor but I can't so I guess it's on both roads, so we just have to wait until they clear the roads or whatever to get at work."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you have any idea why the road is block?"

Commuter
"I know the bus owners are on strike due to the injustices that the government is doing to them. We understand but still we have to go to work."

Jules Vasquez
"So if you don't reach to work on time you will be in problem."

Commuter
"No, my boss will understand."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you support what they are doing?"

Commuter
"In a sense yes because I think it's unfair."

Commuter
"Well I know that my family members are over this side waiting for me and I took the chance from the side of the road."

Jules Vasquez
"Now it's kind of hot."

Commuter
"It's very hot and I think half of my ears are scorch."

Jules Vasquez
"Were you inconvenience by this?"

Commuter
"Yes, my kids have to go to school and I am a teacher at Sadie Vernon Technical."

Jules Vasquez
"Do you support the bus drivers?"

Commuter
"Yes I do, it's something that has to be done. I expect something will come out of it at the end of the day and we are hoping for the best."

Jules Vasquez
"How will you get to work? You still have 16 miles to go."

Commuter
"I will take it as it comes. Basically I already cross over. If I see anything going in my direction I will ask for a ride and where ever I stop I will do the same thing. That is the way it's supposed to be."

Jules Vasquez
"You find this to be an inconvenience or do you support the BBOC in their actions?"

Commuter
"I think it's an inconvenience but I support the bus owners, honestly. I think that the government should have found a way to deal with it before it came to this. If according to the news that you report that the minister tell them that he gave them so many days extension and the minister tell them that he will work on it and when he came out of the meeting something else change. If I have a job and the took it away from me today I think it's unfair and they give it to someone else just because they don't like me. So it is an inconvenience but I agree with the people them, somebody have to stand up somewhere."

And while the commuters waited the fire was getting more fuel with even Ms. Maria doing her part by 7:00 am - a tidy stockpile was waiting.

A sight just to behold so great was the fury of the fire - so uncommon the setting with willing hands to do the heavy lifting and yes even children got in on the fire - fuelling rolling tires almost bigger than them.

By 7:00 am - police were asserting their presence - which the bus operators protested against - and right on time came the announcement of a détente

Maria Rodriguez, BBOC Bus Owner
"They said that we will have back our runs. At 11 o' clock they are meeting."

Jules Vasquez
"Who is that you just spoke to?"

Maria Rodriguez, BBOC Bus Owner
"I cannot say but if we want to move the busses it is up to us but if not leave them here as it is. They are concern about the fires."

With that - by 8:00 am - police had secured the road - without using force simply by detaining the lead troublemaker - that is John Bracektt

John Brackett, CIFOS
"There is no reason for my arrest."

ComPol Crispin Jeffries
"No interview, thank you."

Apart from that - the situation had been defused.

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"Mr. Jeffries asks us to move the buses because of what is going on."

Jules Vasquez
"You all will move?"

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"We are starting to move one by one."

Jules Vasquez
"On what basis have you all agree to move it."

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"They say that they will give us back our runs starting tomorrow."

Jules Vasquez
"You all have gotten word from an official - the president?"

Ewart Metzgen, BBOC Operator
"We are hearing that and that's the reason why we are going to move the busses."

Jules Vasquez
"You will move the bus?"

Driver "Yes sir we will move the busses."

Jules Vasquez
"On what basis?"

Claude Frazer, Chairman - Belize Bus Owners Coop
"We get a resolution and the Prime Minister says that he will deal with our problems. And we prefer do it like this - peaceful with no blood shed. We don't want any problems."

Jules Vasquez
"But you all have received assurance that things are going to go your way?"

Claude Frazer, Chairman - Belize Bus Owners Coop
"Well that is how it seems right now."

Jules Vasquez
"So you are satisfied that your protest was effective."

Claude Frazer, Chairman - Belize Bus Owners Coop
"Exactly and we thank the people that was around even though we inconvenience them, they weren't mad with us. We had some goods comments and that is why we are now taking all these people to Belize City for free. I trust the PM and I will leave it to him and I am sure that he will make a good decision, so I am not scared of what I am doing and if not plan B."

Jules Vasquez
"And plan C."

Claude Frazer, Chairman - Belize Bus Owners Coop
"Also."

Jules Vasquez
"You seem like you feel relieve a little bit Mr. Frazer."

Claude Frazer, Chairman - Belize Bus Owners Coop
"Yeah the cap off the pressure cooker have release a little bit definitely."

And by 7:30 am the BBOC busses were moving off. The only thing left was to clear the road of the debris - piles of steel belts form the tires - and the fire department and the ministry of works hooked up on this one and by 9:00 am the first vehicle was driving across - clearing traffic that was backed up for miles.

Back in town president Shaw was at the Whitley building for a meeting with the prime minister and as they went up in the elevator. Frazier arrived shortly after and he went up with Education Minister Faber.

Over an hour later Shaw Came out satisfied

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"I must applaud the Prime Minister because he is a man of his word - he state clearly what was taking place with the minister and he had the impression that BBOC didn't want the runs because he said that the minister told him that the BBOC didn't want the runs and that's the reason why he gave it to Mr. Chuc. But he promise that he will resolve the situation and with a compromise try to reinstate BBOC back in the west."

Patrick Jones
"So you are happy with what transpires with the meeting with the Prime Minister."

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Well at least we got somewhere, and basically that's our discontent and all the operators and so as I say after 2:30 I will know where we go from there."

Jules Vasquez
"Now a lot of your membership wants to speak in absolute 'we'll try and resolve it', 'he will try and reinstate' I am not hearing absolute definitive terms. Will the runs be reinstated?"

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"Well they will be reinstated due to a compromise due to the fact that this guy has already made an investment. Mr. Frazer stated that he will compromise, he doesn't have a problem if they try to share it half and half, but that's where we stand at this moment."

Jules Vasquez
"Now the Carmelita people are still blocking the road and they say they are waiting for your ok to clear it. Will you call them and tell them to clear the way?"

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"I did because as I say nothing last forever, I told them to clear the way as soon as we come out of this press conference."

Patrick Jones
"I get the feeling this morning that you all have lost confidence in Minister Hulse as Minister of Transport. You want him out of the way because he has lied to you and betrayed you all. Are you still standing by that?"

Thomas Shaw, President BBOC
"I am still standing by that. I would like to see him be removed and personally they should give more respect to the commissioner and the transport board and take Mr. Melvin Hulse and Ms. Candalaria out of this."

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