VOICE Belize City is an advocacy group for older persons and today they launched one of their latest projects. It's a preferential seating system for the elderly and disabled and Russell bus line has embraced the initiative. 7news caught up with the members of the group this morning as they were hanging up signs in the buses.
Shaz Davison, VOICE, Member
"We are an advocacy group for older persons and right now we are working on preferential seating for older persons so that when they go on board they know that they have a place to sit without having to stand up."
Monica Bodden
"How will that work?"
Shaz Davison, VOICE, Member
"Right now this is the sign here and we will do is that Mr. and Mrs. Russell will come and we are going in and start placing them up onto the bus seating in the first two rows so that people will know that these seats are for the older persons and other people of need."
Monica Bodden
"Why did you guys decided to do that and why Russell?"
Shaz Davison, VOICE, Member
"I actually had my training in Bermudian Landing and so it was a natural fit. I knew the owners. We were having some problems getting in touch with some of the other owners. We felt that of we started with a owner that I knew then the group could come with me and be part of the movement and they are more than happy to be part of this. We are hoping that the other bus lines will follow."
Tiny Fraser, Russell Bus Line Rep.
"Ms. Shaz was a member of a group of Peace Corps volunteers that was working in Bermudian Landing last year. I was a part of accommodating the Peace Corps group and a couple months ago she came and approaches me and asks if we would volunteer in this activity and I consulted Mr. Russell and he said that he doesn't have a problem and so we decide to go ahead and do it. I think it's a very good move because in the bus industry we have a lot of disabled and elderly people that sometimes get on the bus and sometimes the busses are either loaded or maybe have seats way in the back. We think it's a good gesture that the elderly or the disabled would be able to whenever they get on a bus there is seat especially there for them. Being in the business we have to look out for each and every passenger on the bus. I think all the other bus companies supposed to get in and do the same."
The signs are not a legal requirement and the members of VOICE Belize are hoping that other bus lines will join in the imitative voluntarily.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh0LvWd_vmo&feature=youtu.be
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