On October 2nd, we reported that the Belize Bus Drivers Cooperative Company Limited had to park their buses as they were unable to meet payments to Atlantic Bank. Well today Chairman of a new cooperative called the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative Society Limited which was formed in June one month after the BBDCC was formed called the press together at the cooperative's head office on Mosul Street to explain why they haven't been able to meet payments to Atlantic Bank. The explanation that Wayne Myers is giving is that while the drivers were able to meet weekly payments to the cooperative the cooperative never made payments to the bank and for all intents and purposes he's saying the monies amounting to will over $170,000 has been embezzled.
Wayne Myers,
"As of Friday I went to the bank and all I found there was $261, which in it is supposed to be far more, in the thousands. Since I took over six weeks ago, a lot of different things have been going on. So far there is a lot of different misuse of funds where the drivers who were working hard to bring in those monies to pay for their loans. Since I took over, I told him we are going a different way because the way that they were going is not the right way. There is no accountability of funds, none at all. Everybody just comes in and do what they want. The logbook states one figure, the pay sheet states one figure, and the account is stating another figure. Something is definitely wrong.
The buses were already insured and licensed. Also the painting of the buses were done by the drivers over a period of one week where we all got together, sanded the buses and everything but yet we have a bill that states that over $28,000 was spent on those expenses, which is not so because we have the proof right here. I can say we did all those jobs and the buses were already licensed and insured.
I am pretty sure of what I am saying because right now the cooperative is governed by bylaws and the bylaws state that they are supposed to have secretary, a treasurer; it goes through the chain where no mistake should be made like that or where an outsider should come in and be allowed to sign checks which is totally out of order. No accountability is there. Nobody is responsible or takes responsibility for what has happened.
I had a talk with Mr. Castillo, he doesn't know what happened. He says he didn't receive any money. My checkbook is saying different and also the banks say that they didn't receive any funds because the drivers are not paying. I have pay sheets that are showing that the drivers have paid. In the first month it was over $33,000 that was paid in by the drivers. The second week it was $21,000 and so therefore up to September, $19,000 was paid in by the drivers. Even now we have Sol, they say we have an outstanding bill and we show in the books that they were paying Sol. Now Sol is saying they haven't received any money."
Alfonso Noble,
Who is responsible for all this mismanagement?
Wayne Myers,
"Well the Chairman is fully responsible for whatever action has been done because he is the one that was voted to be in control of everything, that is Isabel Chan. I don't know what he did in his time but I am taking responsibility as the chairman now to find where the drivers' funds have gone or accountability. That is all I am asking because at this time right now, $261 for five months' work and everybody is paying, everyone has their receipt, it is not counting up to what it should be."
The cooperative has now asked for a complete investigation into the running of the organization from February of this year to October. Assisting them is the cooperatives department.
