The publicly guaranteed $30 million Novelo's loan, it's one of the most discussed disbursements in the DFC public hearings so far. Originally the loan was given to pay Z-Line $15 million for its busses and road service permits, and the other $15 million should have been used to establish a national bus line. Well it never worked, and while the Musa administration pays for the error in political capital, you pay for it in taxpayers' dollars.
Today, the bus industry has returned to the pre-Novelo's configuration, with numerous providers offering a variety of runs to various parts of the country. But in the city, the situation is a bit different. Here, the largest provider is Belize Intransit Services, a Novelo affiliate. But now, one man has a beef with Intransit and Novelo's, and today he mounted a very small protest in front of the national transportation offices. We went to find out why.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
This morning a handful of picketers led by the owner of Belize Tropical Tours and Charters Services gathered in front of the Magazine Road Offices of National Transportation Services Limited. Lopez says they came out to show their dissatisfaction with the service being offered by the company especially when it comes to city-runs.
Carlos Lopez,
"The buses for Belama especially discontinue their routes at 6:30 in the evening. People go to classes up to nine at night and they have to catch the Ladyville Bus which leaves them off on the highway and they have to walk in. We all know of the crime situation in Belize and it is not safe for young ladies to be walking from that distance to Belama. Even during the day time the buses are overcrowded, there is no bus schedule, the buses are dirty, the drivers are not courteous and I believe that I can provide better service for the people of Belize."
Now Lopez who once operated a shuttle service in the city, wants to get back in. However back in 2002 he sold the company and depending on who you listen to it was either to the Novelo's Bus Company or the In-
Transit Bus Company.
Phillip Jones, In-Transit Bus Company
"Mr. Lopez in 2002 he had runs for the King's Park Area which he sold over to InTransit Service and that entails that he wasn't to operate for ten years which he has breached that contract. He is starting up a run for which he has no permit, no right, to shuttling in the city which is illegal. We are not above the law and he is also not above the law so he has no right to be running without permits. He has a contract that he signed over to InTransit Service for ten years that he is not to run and he has breached the contract and there will be legal repercussions for that."
Carlos Lopez,
"I once operated the city bus route in the West Landivar Area. At that time the government of Belize had called for a monopoly for Novelo's Bus Line to operate buses in Belize. I was actually threatened by Novelo's Bus Line that I had to sell to them. I did it because I didn't want to get in any trouble at that time. They are trying to hold me to that whereas the company was sold over to them under a concession but it was sold over to Novelo's Bus Line, not Belize InTransit Services. Novelo's Bus Line no longer exists, I have received legal advice on this and they have no hold to Novelo's Bus Line. So I think as a Belizean I should be given a right to operate these buses in Belize."
Alfonso Noble,
I have a document here, could you tell us what this is?
Carlos Lopez,
"This document is not signed by me. I have another document. That is not my signature."
Alfonso Noble,
This is not you saying that you will not apply for another road service permit for at least ten years?
Carlos Lopez,
"This particular document is not mine. I have another document which I'll bring to you right now which was sold to Novelo's Bus Line."
Alfonso Noble,
You're saying this is a false document, somebody fabricated this?
Carlos Lopez,
"That one is not my signature."
Alfonso Noble,
So you made no such promise?
Carlos Lopez,
"The agreement I have is with Novelo's Bus Line."
Alfonso Noble,
Did you make a promise not to enter into the bus service industry for the next ten years after having sold your company?
Carlos Lopez,
"Please be advised that there was an agreement between Novelo's Bus Line and myself not with Belize InTransit Services."
Alfonso Noble,
Did you make that endeavor not to enter into the bus service for the next ten years after having sold the company? Did you make that promise?
Carlos Lopez,
"An agreement was made with Novelo's Bus Line."
Alfonso Noble,
Did you make that agreement?
Carlos Lopez,
"With Novelo's Bus Line yes but Novelo's Bus Line no longer exists. The agreement was that I would not operate city bus for ten years if Novelo's Bus Line operates but the company operating right now is Belize InTransit Services."
Lopez supplied us with that document which does show that he indeed sold his company to Novelo's Bus Line. As for the document that we have, he claims it's a fake; he never sold to Belize In-Transit. But no matter who you believe, the reality now is that the bus wars may not be a thing of the past, and this is just one more skirmish in a protracted and resurgent battle.
Lopez says he has applied for a license for over six weeks and has not been given a permit to run. He is however running what those in the industry call sniper runs without a license. He is seeking runs from Belama and King's Park, two of which he held previous to selling out in 2002. Meanwhile National Transportation Services Limited say they have 12 runs that cover the city.
