The threat of a bus strike has been percolating for weeks and it finally happened today. From 4:30 to 8:30 this morning, the Tower Hill Bridge was blocked by bus owners demanding clarity on a fuel subsidy government has promised them.
This strike action by the northern BBA members comes after a days of negotiations over bus fares that left the association unsatisfied and commuters in an uproar.
The BBA rejected those new fares on Saturday, so the Ministry scrapped them and agreed to give the members a fuel subsidy.
But the members felt that proposal lacked key specifics, which is why they blocked the road at the Tower Hill Bridge in protest this morning. Courtney Menzies was on the ground and has this story.
Commuter 1
"Put it up on Facebook let them know we're out here."
Commuter 2
"Johnny supposed to be out here. Last time Johnny was fighting for gas go down now he…" [obscenity]
This was the scene at the Tower Hill Bridge at 4:30 this morning - buses began blocking the Phillip Goldson Highway, effectively isolating the north and blocking traffic bound north and south of the New River.
Then, in Biscayne, tires went up in smoke - sending a message to the government that the BBA means business.
Commuters were forced to exit the buses they likely already paid for and start walking, hoping to find another way to work or school. This ambulance was held up for a bit, until the bus driver allowed them to pass.
At around 7:00, the VP of the BBA said they were prepared to stay there for the long haul.
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"The president is in Belize and they are saying that the prime minister called him and is willing to give a reduction of $3 on the gallon. We worked out our math and majority of the members they don't want to go less than $10."
Courtney Menzies:
"You really think the government will give you guys that?"
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"Well, if they cannot bear that burden then we're going to continue out there."
Courtney Menzies:
"How long are you guys planning to be out here this morning?"
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"I cannot answer that question directly but if the prime minister is interested all we are asking is to give us a call or to come here with us, negotiate with us, and once they can negotiate with us then we can understand and move immediately."
Fraser added they know they are losing a day's revenue and wages, but they're at a breaking point in their operations.
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"When you think about the fuel subsidy, it's not going to really work out if we do not get that reduction because most of us would make maybe $500 roundtrip then we have wear and tear, conductors to pay, drivers to pay, we're on a real loss. I have one of my members that at the end of the week, she was $700 negative. We've been trying our best to avoid all this. I am fully aware and they are aware that millions of dollars will be lost today. Now, to tell you the truth we know that our commuters need much better, we are trying, we need big investments but Mr Zabaneh who is the Minister of Transport went ahead and formed the National Bus Company. What is happening there it is separating us."
And on the other side of the bridge, CEO Chester Williams arrived just to monitor the situation. He said that while they were surprised by the strike, the NBC was prepared to mobilize.
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport
"Of course yes we were surprised by it but at the same time we have been in discussions almost through the course of the night discussing our contingency plan in the event it would have occurred so while yes we were surprised, we were prepared for it."
Courtney Menzies:
"So what's the plan now?"
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport
"Well you have heard the minister's interview and we are here to see if cooler heads are going to prevail, we would hope that the bus operators would bring reason to the table and clear the road and negotiate from there. In the interview with the president of the BBA, he said the prime minister would be making an announcement today and he wants to meet with the prime minister so then why not wait until the prime minister's announcement and meet with the PM before doing something like this and i think that by doing this before such a meeting isn't acting in good faith."
"In contemplating that they would have strike this morning, we have put NBC buses in place to be able to full the gap that will be left by these operators who chose not to run today so again just to inform the Belizean people that the NBC is operating in the area at this time, ensuring that we are able to move commuters between the north and Belize City and even Belmopan."
And while Fraser apologized to their commuters, those who had to hop off the bus and catch an NBC one - or those in private vehicles who simply had to wait it out - had mixed opinions on the matter.
Courtney Menzies:
"How long have you been out here?"
Marvin, Commuter
"Since 5 this morning we have been here."
Courtney Menzies:
"Where were you heading?"
Marvin, Commuter
"To Ladyville, Bowen and Bowen. We're not getting paid this day."
Courtney Menzies:
"So if you don't reach you don't get paid?"
Marvin, Commuter
"No."
Courtney Menzies:
"What did you tell your boss?"
Marvin, Commuter
"I told them that we can't go through."
Courtney Menzies:
"How does that make you feel?"
Marvin, Commuter
"Stressed. I just borrowed $5 because I have no money so I need money."
Courtney Menzies:
"Had to buy a little breakfast?"
Marvin, Commuter
"Yes."
Courtney Menzies:
"Was it nice?"
Marvin, Commuter
"Hmm, kinda."
Courtney Menzies:
"So what will you do now, just have to wait it out?"
Marvin, Commuter
"We have to wait right here until these people say we could go."
"We do not have the fault, we want to work but we don't have the fault, it's the government and the association of the buses, we don't have the fault, so it's unfair."
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney/Commuter
"I have an appearance in Corozal before the Magistrate's Court this morning and I am scheduled to be there for 9am but it doesn't look like it will happen."
Courtney Menzies:
"So what does that mean for yourself and your client?"
Norman Rodriguez, Attorney/Commuter
"Well, my representation is due and I will notify the court and I will assume the court will either give me time or adjourn the matter."
"If we take a close look at the state of some of the buses on the road then I can agree with them that maybe they need some kind of assistance. The people suffer in the end and that is a very sad thing because I have seen people walking across the bridge, I don't know how they will reach where they are going but there's a very sad state of affairs when the people suffer in the end. I believe the government and the bus owners should come to some agreement so things can start flowing again."
"I don't mind waiting, I always believe you have to stand up for what you believe in."
Commuter
"I feel bad, I came to check my granddaughter, she's sick, I took 5 days to come here. I live in San Pedro, I have property in San Pedro. My people called me, they wanted to see me."
Courtney Menzies:
"So you were on your way back to city to catch a boat?"
Commuter
"Yes, I want to go to the plane, but they told me the same thing, I don't understand."
Courtney Menzies:
"Do you understand what's happening out here today, or why the buses are striking?"
Commuter
"No."
Courtney Menzies:
"You just got caught in the middle."
Commuter
"Yes. I don't know why they did this, I don't know."
But after four hours and a phone call with the prime minister behind the closed doors of a coach bus, an agreement was arrived at that the bus operators believe they can work with:
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"I called by the prime minister and we have agreed to give us the $3 discount from the fuel price, we will meet with the Transport Department in Belmopan to do a slight fare adjustment, we have asked for a person from his office to be present because we believe Mr Zabaneh isn't dealing with us fairly and asked that he would send that to me in a WhatsApp and then in black and white. We also promise him that we will be moving our bus and that is what we are about to do now."
Courtney Menzies:
"This $3 fuel subsidy and the $1 increase on fares, that's enough for you guys?"
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"Exactly, that's what we have agreed on."
Courtney Menzies:
"This morning you wanted $10 fuel subsidy."
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"Well, negotiating, you never give your highest, or you know, you try to negotiate. We want to work along with the prime minister and we have agreed to work along with him. It's a 3 month subsidy if you want to call it that and he will watch the price of fuel, if it fluctuates up, down, whatever, and maybe we can go back to the table if any adjustment is needed."
Courtney Menzies:
"Do you feel like if you didn't block these roads today, you would not have gotten the subsidy and the fare increase you're asking for?"
Michael Fraser, Limited Bus Line/VP, BBA
"Sometimes you have to take things to a certain extent. They would say, baby cry, come you must."
The flow of traffic resumed at 8:30 am - meaning that the entire day of work was not lost - but it did serve as a kind of warning, an indication of how quickly the BBA can escalate matters when they are driven by desperation. And while traffic flowed this morning, the situation remains precarious.
