And in the days since they've lost that permit, the Ritchie's have been struggling to support not just their own family but the extended family made up of their former employees, here's what Mr Ritchie told our Sunup hosts about some of the most difficult conversations he's ever had to have.
Dalmon Ritchie, Owner Ritchie's Bus Service
"Well so far I have Mr OJ Elrington that is helping us, we are going to take legal action and he is advising us what to do and we are going about doing it no."
"Well he wants to put an injunction for it but he says because the courts are so busy it's a go slow process, no? It takes time."
Hosts:
"Definitely, we know it takes time."
Dalmon Ritchie, Owner Ritchie's Bus Service
"So with that said everybody is taking a licking because they aren't working, they are standing here with us in the garage, and we don't have anything to do, they asked me once what are we going to do and I told them, well I think the best thing for you to do is to start to look for another job. Floralia didn't hire them, Wow, the government didn't arrange anything for my workers."
Host:
"And on that same note could you just share just a brief estimate of how many people have been put out of place because of this contract being given to somebody else?"
Dalmon Ritchie, Owner Ritchie's Bus Service
"Well, we have about 8-10 people that are not working and some of these guys have families, all of them, some of them have kids, you know all of them have kids and they are going to school and these guys are sitting there stretching thier hands and there is no money."
A release today from the Belize Progressive Party laments that, quote, "Long-standing bus owners, who have provided years of service to this country, do not deserve for their permits to be halted, and with no measures in place to avoid a further decrease in their standard of living. No income for these local bus operators and their staff will surely add to our poverty and low-income rate. "
It is reckless and inhumane to simply take away from our locals with absolutely no provision in place." End quote.
