Premier on Bus Stoppage: “Amazingly Insensitive”
As many locals are aware bus drivers elected to return to stand-down, saying the roads were not clear enough after Hurricane Igor and presented a safety issue. Premier Dr Ewart Brown just released a statement calling the decision by bus drivers “amazingly insensitive”, “un-Bermudian” and said it “lacks compassion and defies rational explanation.”
The full statement follows below:
The Ministry of Tourism and Transport has taken an aggressive leadership role in getting Bermuda up and moving again in the aftermath of Hurricane Igor.
In an effort to provide the public with service, while protecting the safety of the operators, a management decision was taken yesterday to stagger the resumption of bus service this morning on routes that were identified as safe.
Works and Engineering and BELCO agreed last night to address areas of concern contained in a route inspection report submitted by Department of Public Transportation representatives. It was determined that partial service would commence at 6 a.m. with full service available by noon today.
This approach served to get our people moving again while protecting the safety of our operators. Despite this rational and reasoned approach, operators decided to down tools and cease providing service to the community.
In light of the anxiety that Bermudians have experienced over the past three days with Hurricane Igor, this work stoppage over a disagreement with regard to the start time for the resumption of service, is amazingly insensitive.
Just as most Bermudians are in the thick of recovery this insensitive gesture is very un-Bermudian, lacks compassion and defies rational explanation.”
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- Buses Are Running Today As Normal | Bernews.com | September 22, 2010
He has a very good point. Sounds like an excuse to get an extra day off work.
If they are that concerned about safety, maybe they should stick to the speed limit! But that’s another issue…
Another person talking about things they know nothing about….I suggest you get the full story first. For your information it was not the drivers fault to suspend the service. If we wanted a day off we would have called in sick.Every driver that was supposed to show up for work did. As far as the speed limited maybe the public should respect the bus and the Give Way sign and not creating a third lane when you see fit or overtaking us because we are not going fast enough for you.
Ahh yes, the give way sign… that has no actual legal merit – but if you don’t stop… a bus driver may just leave his vehicle and try to rip you out of yours (a couple years ago, I saw it… widely reported, I’m not making this up)
Take your hand off the change thingy, and please at least try to stay on the correct side of the road!
Good point about the ‘Give Way’ signs on the buses. No legal basis at all. I can’t tell you how many times a bus has started to pull out into the road while I am actually alongside of it .. any time I see a bus driver waiting to get out I give way and let them go, courtesy breeds courtesy, but some drivers just push out as soon as they are ready to drive off regardless of whether there is a car beside them. Maybe they need a reminder that the give way sign is a request, not a demand.
Ya i concur with the person above i have had so many close calls with busses driving way to fast and almost taking me out. All they want is another day off.
Give me a flippin break !! I’m sure every other vehicle made it safely… What is really going on ? Tricks are for kids, DRIVE THEM BUSES SO PPL CAN GET GET FROM AtoB please and stop wssting precious time !!
I FULLY AGREE WITH ADRIAN & STEFAN !!
“wasting”
Excuses from them as usual. It was safe enough for everyone else to get up and go to work today. If the roads are still that unsafe everyone should have stayed home today. Its ridiculous they find any reason not to work.
Get Em Ewart BROWN !!…. Like are we Children or ADULTS??? Striking over an issue like this.??? I bet the Majority of the Drivers where out Site Seeing , and assessing the Damage left behind from Igor’s WRATH !!!
Correct me if I’m Wrong…. But .. at the end of the day.. Many People Look up to You Bus Drivers in many instances. You Provide a Service to us Fellow Bermudians, and many will agree, they Appreciate you all a lot. Why would you let your own People Down over a minor Issue like this??????
Truly! I got to work on the bus no problem, then was left abandoned in St George’s until I could get a ride home after 7pm. The route was fine at 8am, so what’s the problem?
When the Government bailed out the BIU, it was felt by many that the union would be reluctant to strike etc. It seems that Brown miscalculated and wasted more taxpayers money.
Absolutely.. Further, Mr Brown needs only look at the manner in which he has led this country over the past few years and see the hypocrisy in his statement.
The fish always, but always rots from the head..
I don’t often agree with our esteemed Premier, but in this instance…
The bus service could take a lesson or two in ways to deal with the aftermath of a hurricane from BELCO or the news agencies.
Hey, I’m just glad you all came through as good as you did. My family and I will be there Tuesday off a cruise ship at K W. I’m certainly glad no one was hurt and hopefully you will be back to normal soon. The buses are back in service, for whatever reason they may have felt unsafe, so give them the benifit of the doubt.( past is in the past).. I don’t envy anyone driving on that island..on a clear sunny day…lol..It’s work so I say be “Bermudian” as I always see from a tourist eyes when I’m there…both the bus drivers and the car drivers respect each other..God Bless you all, greatest place on earth…
Get over it you lazy drivers and 2 hour lunch breakers. You’re there for a service to the taxpayers and general public. Just like the taxi drivers whining like babies. It’s probably that they can’t do 60 mile an hour and run through red lights like they usually do that they’re all upset. They should be taking their time anyway after a storm. Crack dat wip…Go Ewart…Go Ewart!
All of you sounds like you hate bus drivers well those people who drive!!!!! little match box cars should use there side of the rd instead of coming over the lane and talking on there cell phones. The drivers of those small little cars should come drive a bus then you will see where we are coming from it sounds like white people complaining thats always the case.
Buss Driva – how did this become a white problem How can you tell if someone making a complaint is white or black? So instead of discussing the problems that were brought up, that of some bus drivers sometimes abusing the give way signs, and the problem of some buses speeding etc, you make it a race issue! Way to go, this will really make people appreciate your job …geez, get a grip and deal with the issue instead of shooting the messenger.