As we reported last night, National Transportation Services Limited is legally back on the road with road service permits which allow the company 4 runs daily from Benque to Belize City and back. While the permits are only for one month, for the Novelo brothers it's an important nod from officialdom that there is a place for them on the roadways. Spokesperson for the company Miley Garcia says the company is so grateful for the permits that as a show of that gratitude, they are offering customers something special on Saturday.
Miley Garcia,
"This is a very happy day for National Transportation Services Limited. As you can see our buses ere making their return trips to Benque Viejo which means today is the first day that we are exercising the rights that have been granted to us under the permits."
Alfonso Noble,
"How much of an inconvenience or how much of a loss of revenue was that week, almost a week, that you were out of service and your buses were impounded?
Miley Garcia,
"Well it was quite an inconvenience, there was quite a loss but I think the loss was to the commuters who had to suffer the inconvenience during those days when the buses were not running. I think they were already accustomed to National Transportation filling those gaps that were not being filled by the other lines and so for the most part, I'd say the inconvenience was for the commuters. We would not like to quantify what was the loss was because its an ongoing debate. It's in celebration of the granting of the new permits. The workers, the management of Novelo's Bus Services, and also a couple sponsors have come together and we want to provide a special opportunity for people to do their Christmas shopping. So we will be providing a total of seventy-three free runs on Saturday. We have also contacted the business community through the Belize Chamber of Commerce and a number of businesses will be offering special discounts to people who are coming on the buses. So when you ride the buses, they will be issuing special coupons to you that you will be able to use at some of the some shops in downtown Belize City and that will enhance your opportunity for shopping."
Alfonso Noble,
People looking on will say this is just a stunt from people who have proven that they've completely devastated the transportation industry with regards the Novelo's Bus Line. This is just a stunt, a one off thing, and its just meaningless because we know at the end of the day they still owe a lot of money and that money may never be paid back.
Miley Garcia,
"You have to understand that this is a business and so of course giving fuel on Saturday is also a cost of our publicity, its advertising also, but I think you have to understand that management is forfeiting all of their income, the drivers will be forfeiting their salaries for the day and the people who have also agreed to subsidize this, plus the merchants in Belize city who'll be giving the discounts. So its really a joint effort and of course it's a part of our work in publicity but you have to understand that yes we are giving something to the commuters and at the end of the day the debacle over the business and the loans and all that continues."
There will be a total of 73 free runs from Benque, Punta Gorda, Placencia, Dangriga, Ladyville and city runs.
