And what kind of advice do the Ritchie's have for their former fellow bus operator's?
On Wednesday they shared their dismay at the situation that President of the Bus Association Andy Shaw is facing due to his competitor, Floralia.
They also questioned Floralia's source of funding and, even ahead of yesterday leaked waiver, pointed to special treatment that the company may have received from G.O.B.
Dalmon Ritchie, Owner Ritchie's Bus Service
"Well, yes because our president Mr. Andy Shaw, he got screwed yesterday on his run also without even a warning and he sits on our board, he sits on the transport board and he didn't get that message that they are going to take away his run and they didn't take it away, they just put Floralia right along with him on his time and also the James bus, they put the time on his time too so something wrong is going on."
"Well the problem is we don't know where that money comes from big man, we don't know where the buses they came from. Um, I think the Belizean people should be, should get an answer and the bus owner, should tell us who is it that owns that particular bus and we don't know, we don't know where the money comes from and if the government is helping these guys to get buses then why can't they do the same thing for us who are in the business so long."
For their part the Ministry of Transport has committed to the modernization of the public ground transportation in Belize. Earlier tis week via press release they informed the public of new standards for public transport buses.
This new bus classification allows for Road Service Permit Type A's or Premier Permit's to be given to buses 10 years or less, Type B to buses 20 years or less, and type C to buses 25 years or less. It means that any bus beyond that age should be taken out of operation.
