In other news, yesterday was the last day that Ritchie's would be on the road, since the bus operator's permit wasn't renewed by the Transport Board. And in their place, Floralia will be picking up their runs in Placencia. And on top of that, they're also going to be competing with Shaw's and Sylva's in Belmopan, and they'll even be going all the way to the Philip Goldson International Airport and back down.
So that leaves Ritchie - who's been operating since 2008 - out of a run, and out of his bread and butter. And his attorney, Orson Elrington has previously explained that they believe there are no legitimate and legal reasons for the transport board not to have renewed their permit, especially since they claim they got no previous warnings.
Elrington told us today that they will be battling the matter in court.
Orson "OJ" Elrington, Attorney
"Indeed, like you said, just like we would have indicated in our last interview that there is clearly a move afoot to give, now I can call the name, Floralia, preferential treatment and for them to effectively spread their wings as the minister had indicated some months ago that he expects them to go across the country and regrettably our local bus owners like Mr Ritchie and as family who has dedicated their entire life to servicing the people of Belize are victims of this expansion. So indeed, we are in the process of filing that application, the application has not been filed as yet, we wanted certain things to manifest itself and come clearly to light and the final thing that we needed happened today and so we should be expecting to file that application no later than tomorrow."
And with Floralia's other new runs, Elrington believes they're heading for total domination of the public transport system. But we've heard the complaints from commuters that these old buses aren't cutting it, and many of them would rather ride in comfort. Elrington speculated that Floralia was getting preferential treatment, and if the other bus companies were given the same treatment, they'd be able to upgrade too.
Orson "OJ" Elrington, Attorney
"It is exactly what I have been saying from the time I have started to look at this that this is an issue that not only affects Mr Ritchie but I believe every single bus operator in Belize needs to look at this and see that this is not an attack only on Mr Ritchie or on, I believe Williams is the name of the other family who has been in operation for decades in Belize in the bus industry, it is not only an attack on them, it is an attack on every single bus owner and it is an attack that they should seriously look at not as individuals but as a collective body and do whatever it takes to ensure that this type of action cease and desists."
Reporter
"But the commuters will say, we've suffered for too long and we're on Floralia's side, what would you say to that?"
Orson "OJ" Elrington, Attorney
"Well, I would warn bus owners that wherever there is a monopoly, these things normally last for a short while and if indeed all of the bus owners were offered the same type of incentives and the same type of security that Floralia is being offered then you would see a complete upgrade in the public transportation system. I think every single person, I've always lobbied and said that one of the greatest indications that you're in a progressive country is the quality of your public transportation where any professional, any person is willing to hop on public transportation and go anywhere, where it's not some inconvenience but it is the opposite, it is convenient."
"While it is that it is the objective of the bus owners as well to improve their service, but that has to come with the necessary security, no bank is going to give you a loan if it is that your license is for a one year period and the government can arbitrarily, as they have done in this situation, take away your license, because the banks need to secure their investment."
