There was a bus run showdown at the Belize City Bus terminal last night as the President of the Bus Association, made an unexpected appearance in the city to make sure his 8:00 PM Shaw Bus secured an adequate number of passengers.
He did this while simultaneously blocking commuters' views of the Floralia bus that was set to take the very same route in their first 8:00 pm Belize City - Belmopan run. Shaw is determined to block what he sees as Floralia's ever increasing expansionism and 7News was at the terminal watching it all unfold.
Tonight we'll show you why this standoff between a small-time bus man and the polished comforts presented by Belize's newest and shiniest Bus company is much more complicated than a battle over a bus run:
Just a few moments ago we saw the departure of both Shaw and Floralia to the west, the Shaw bus went as usually full as it would go, and the Floralia left with just one passenger, the question now is, whether this run is necessary at this time of the night, even if it provides a better experience.
This was last night's 7:45 arrival of both Shaw and Floralia to Belize City's Bus terminal. Both buses were set to take the 8:00PM run west with Floralia stopping In Belmopan and Shaw continuing on to San Ignacio and then Benque.
But like David against Goliath, long-time bus operator, Andy Shaw stood tall against the virgin run of this newcomer luxury bus that, he says, is encroaching on his long-held night run.
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Mr Shaw doesn't normally come out here so once I come out here you know something is going down."
"What is being done? As you can see, whenever you issue a road service permit you are supposed to do your due diligence okay, the first thing you need to come out and see if there is a need for the bus, if you know another operator is doing the run, why put another operator on the run."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So, is this some type of protest on your behalf?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"It's not really a protest, I am taking care of my business. I will be dealing with it."
Cherisse Halsall:
"How so?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"I'm. Seeing it first-hand because they just started it, that is why I'm here to see exactly what and tomorrow I will take it from there."
Cherisse Halsall:
"But you can't stop the bus from moving?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"I can stop nothing. I am not stopping the bus and I am not fighting with them. I believe in diplomacy and there is a right and a wrong way to do things but the way they are doing it, it's totally, totally wrong."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Do you feel that they have some kind of influence in the government that allows them to now get into this run?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Well, I don't know what kind of influence, I know they want to spread like cancer. When there is cancer, you know what, the only way you can get rid of it is to cut it out."
Cherisse Halsall:
"I have to say Sir on behalf of some of the consumers that have voiced to us for years, they feel like sub-human beings because they have to ride these very old buses, and they think, they deserve an experience like this, what would you say?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"The people do deserve better but are they in a position to pay more? Everybody wants, it's like when you go to church, everybody asks god Jimmie, gimmie, Jimmie, Jimmie but nobody wants to give an offering."
Cherisse Halsall:
"And what Sir if you find out that indeed they can pay more?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"If they can pay more fine, but then give him, let him establish his run don't come and sit down around my table that I have already set."
And, while Shaw's stance might come off as entitled, he makes some interesting points about Floralia's affordability of the everyday commuter but he's also asking what will happen to the late-night Western traveller if the Belize City to Belmopan leg of his 8:00 PM run becomes unsustainable.
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"I sit on the transport board, we had a meeting last week and nothing pertaining to this run came up, I didn't know until this morning when my workers called me, and that's the reason why I'm down here."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Sir, the criticism will be, fair competition is fair completion."
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Fair competition, what you reap you are going to sow, you have, the bottom line is it's not fair competition because you have supply and demand, if there is no demand why would you be putting another bus there?"
Cherisse Halsall:
"There is a demand for a more luxurious experience."
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Luxurious, but are you in the position to pay more? If you were riding right now and paying $10 for it would you be willing to pay $15 more?"
Cherisse Halsall:
"How many people actually go to Belmopan?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Well, Ma'am, I have been doing this run for years and when I get to Mahogany Heights I almost feel like turning back to Belize City because sometimes it's only four passengers leave on board."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Now, how many people actually go on to San Ignacio and then Benque?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"None, none, and that is what I am suffering and enduring for years. So for them to do something like this I am not going to stand for it."
Cherisse Halsall:
"Now, that bus is only going where?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Belmopan, but if I have, when I get to Belmopan if I have one passenger I have to take them, but that bus is only going to Belmopan."
"Secondly, we charge $7 and the other bus in the bank charges $9."
Cherisse Halsall:
"So now if they were to somehow put you out of business what happens to the people that have to ride to Benque and San Ignacio?"
Andy Shaw, Owner/Operator, Shaw's Bus Service
"Well, this is where the people come in they have to voice their opinion, everybody suffers in silence because they are afraid and people need to stand up for their rights, I don't normally come to Belize City, but why am I down here, I have to protect my investment."
From the Bus terminal in Belize City Cherisse Halsall, 7News.
Another Floralia bus is set to take tonight's 8:00 route to Belmopan although it remains to be seen whether Shaw will be out there to quote: 'protect his investment' this time around.
