Yesterday we told you that the high court has pulled three of Floralia's southern runs, Dangriga, and Independence, initially held by Griga Line, and Punta Gorda, which James Bus Line also does. The judge found that the transport board, quote, "failed to comply with the statutory requirements and breached the claimants' right to be heard." End quote.
But rather than cut the runs immediately, the judge has given Floralia a grace period of one month. During that time, the claimants, James Bus Line and Griga Line, now have the opportunities to apply for those runs, as does Floralia. But it might not be easy for the newer company this time around.
The attorney for James Bus and Griga Line, Dean Barrow, explained more.
Dean Barrow, Attorney
"While those permits have all been quashed by the court, the judge helpfully, quite sensibly, placed a stay on her quashing order. It won't actually take effect until the 10th of December. And I believe she said specifically to avoid as much as possible the inconvenience to the public."
"When now, of course, she's made clear that going forward the transport board, which came in for quite a degree of excurasion and Madam Chabot had judged who is mild mannered, who is gracious to a fault, and so for her to use what I thought was spirited, indeed strong language, in chastising the transport board spoke volumes."
"But clearly she's made plain, you will have to go back and do this over. There's a difference between Griga Lines and James. James continued to have its permits. James' complaint was, but you gave Floralia these competing permits."
"You gave Floralia permits with time slots that collided against ours. And you did this without even hearing from us. You did this without hearing from the public. You did this while driving a horse and carriage through the web of required measures under the statute that the Transport Board must observe in dealing with applications for permits, in awarding permits. But that was a little different from Brian Williams."
"Brian Williams was left without a permit completely. What the judge is saying in terms of the PG runs, Floralia's permit is cancelled. It doesn't stop Floralia from applying anew, but in considering any new applications, the Transport Board will have to be very careful and will have to take into account the effect that the grant of those permits would have on James Bus Line. And of course the evidence is already there."
"Regarding Brian Williams, he will now be entitled to make an application for the runs that have been given to Floralia and that are now quashed."
A statement from the Ministry of Transport says, quote, "While the Government of Belize reviews the decision of the Court, the Transport Board and the Department of Transport maintain their commitment to continue strengthening its internal procedures in order to maintain the highest public transportation processes and standards." End quote.
They also commit to taking steps to avoid disruptions in service, so as to not impact commuters.
