The Police and Transport Departments have impounded their buses but tonight the defiant Novelo brothers claim they will continue running National Transportation buses...until the court tells them otherwise. This morning the Department of Transport impounded three of the Novelo brother's National Transportation Service buses. Two of their Blue Bird buses are tonight sitting in the Price Barracks Parking Lot and a third is at the Police Training School in Belmopan. The brothers are trying to get those buses back but at a press conference this afternoon, Antonio Novelo told the media they will run other buses.
Antonio Novelo,
"The buses did come in with their passengers and they were waiting for the buses at mile 3 with Transport Department and everybody. They escorted the buses to offload and then from there they escorted the drivers to take the buses to Ladyville.
The question right now is whether we have a valid permit or we don't. We say we have a valid permit and the Department of Transport says we don't. That is for the court to decide. Whatever the court decides, we shall abide by the rules and laws of this country. But up to today, we have to go and challenge for our legal contractual rights that are in a document that we have a contract. So obviously we have a valid permit and we'll insist that we have a valid permit."
The Brothers claim they run four buses daily from Benque to Belize City and back starting at 4 am. The brothers through their attorney have applied to the Supreme Court for a injunction blocking the impoundment of the buses. National Transport's General Manager David Novelo told us that the impoundment is unlawful and he is hopeful they will get back the three buses shortly. At this afternoon's press conference, the brothers also questioned the validity of Novelo's "the receiver" road service permits.
