But, was it not approved? When Williams spoke to the press after a joint meeting last Thursday - he discussed that same 50 cent increase like it was a done deal:
Date: Thursday April 23
Chester Williams, CEO Ministry of Transport
"As you would know that there is the short stops, short stops will go up to like between 1 mile to 10 miles and the short stops do have a cost, so there will be a slight increase to the short stops which will be like maybe 50 cents and then after the short stops then we apply the 18 cents per mile ratio."
But two days later on Saturday he changed the narrative and said that "slight increase" actually needed Cabinet approval which it did not get:
Date: Saturday April 25
Chester Williams, CEO - Ministry of Transport
"So we told them, myself and Director Logue that we're going to put the suggestion down. But bear in mind that when we're finished with the calculation myself and Miss Logue; in fact, not even the minister has the authority to say "yes it's a go." We'll have to send it to Minister, minister will have to discuss it with his colleagues in Cabinet and then if they agree then it's a go. So when we completes the process we had the press brief and you would have heard the President of the BBA said that he was extremely satisfied with the process."
