PLP: We Need Visitor Transportation Solution
[Updated w/Govt's response] The “transportation crisis” in Dockyard “reared its head yet again yesterday with excessively long lines” and a solution must be “reached to preserve Bermuda’s reputation,” said Shadow Minister of Tourism Zane DeSilva and Shadow Minister of Transport Lawrence Scott
In a joint statement, they said, “The transportation crisis in Dockyard, said to be resolved by Minister Shawn Crockwell on Wednesday, August 13th, reared its head yet again yesterday, with excessively long lines, reportedly requiring tourists to wait in excess of 90 minutes for transportation to Bermuda’s beaches.
Photo tweeted by the PLP yesterday with caption “long lines of tourists waiting at Dockyard”
“This is unacceptable and we demand a solution be reached to preserve Bermuda’s reputation. Passengers on these cruise ships do not deserve this treatment and a resolution needs to be found before our reputation as a cruise and tourist destination is further damaged.
“We propose that the Minister increase the mini bus permits, reduce the red tape for taxi drivers, eliminate the WEDCo arrangement that amounts to market interference, work with the cruise lines to advertise and promote private sector options to passengers, and after consultation with the BIU, allow for a normalized bus schedule for the bus operators.
Second photo tweeted by the PLP yesterday
“Minister Crockwell needs to cease the photo opportunities, and get down to hard work, and implement solutions to these transportation woes that are plaguing us. It is useless and irresponsible to come out and pose and shake hands when you believe things are going well, but to hide when things are going wrong,” the statement concluded.
Update 2.30pm: The Ministry responded to the Opposition’s statement, their statement follows in full below.
The Ministry of Tourism Development and Transport can confirm that the purported 90 minutes wait time for transportation is completely inaccurate.
The Ministry has personnel on the ground at Dockyard and we are continuously monitoring the situation. Queues are not uncommon when moving large numbers of passengers in any transportation system and our focus is always to minimize and ensure the wait time is reasonable.
It is also important to clarify a few points: as stated in our initial press release “This new initiative is aligned with the vision for WEDCo to assume greater responsibility for ground transportation logistical operations in Dockyard. The shuttle service also provides opportunities for local entrepreneurs while reducing the need and reliance on the public buses that have traditionally provided this service.”
The new shuttle service is not intended to completely replace public transportation and it has the full support of our cruise line partners.
The Ministry has always strived to ensure opportunities for revenue generation for our taxi and minibus operator are provided in Dockyard and this new initiative is aligned with that objective, we are providing opportunities to Bermudians that are in the transportation industry.
The Ministry has taken progressive steps to improve the economic situation for industry professionals, taxi legislation was recently amended that included increasing the number of passengers that can be carried, a 25% rate increase [the last increase was in December 2007] and allowing for the advertising inside of their vehicles. There is absolutely no red tape for taxi drivers.
The Ministry will continue to work closely with taxi and minibus operators, our cruise partners and WEDCo to address any issues as they may arise and to continue to provide opportunities for Bermudian entrepreneurs.
“Tweeted by the PLP”
There is your answer right there.
Operation Pressure Cooker; Chapter 5 Section 1(a).
Shalom.
Glass houses. Stones.
This is not good. As I stated before in previous posts the system should not have been tempered with in the middle of the season. Now they can’t seem to get it right, well they claim to have it under control. Was the minister out there yesterday?
Return the buses and work out the kinks for May 2015. Simple and easy solution.
I’ve been on a number of cruises, and each time there are lines Lines forming for buses, tours and transport at each location on the cruise.
It is fairly normal. The problems occur when the lines are not being serviced within a timeframe. A photo will not show this.
Me thinks this is another PLP attempt to make the Govt and transport folks in Dockyard look bad. Really not enough evidence to say otherwise.
What is that, two bus loads ?
OBA has failed again to provide effective services for our Tourist, during such a key period of our industry.
Why are tourist still waiting in such long lines? The problem is not fixed as Crockwell seems to suggest. This is an outrage at best.
Why are we treating our tourist in such a bad way? This is poor planning and bad administration by the OBA government at best.
Why not give equal choices to tourist? They should have the option of whatever transportation they like, public or private. Why is one method making more money than the other? Come on this government is falling once again, seem incapable of doing anything right. This problem is a MESS !
If u say so betty
Instead of blaiming the OBA the actual question has to go back to the Dep. of Transport – they (you would have thought) would come up with reasonable ways to ge this sorted not the Minister. We do not want the Minister to Micro manage as what the PLP did. And BTW they also screwed it up.
“This is an outrage at best”.
Really, ‘at best’? What is it at worst, then?
Well done Minister Crockwell and crew. WOW! How photos can paint a completely different picture.
When I’ve been on a cruise ship, there are lines leaving the cruise ship, lines forming for buses, tours and transport at each location.
It is fairly normal. The problems occur when the lines are not being serviced within a timeframe. A photo will not show this.
Me thinks this is another PLP attempt to make the Govt and transport folks in Dockyard look bad.
@ hmmm, make them look bad, it is bad. And if this is what happens elsewhere, that doesn’t make it any better.
It’s BAD!
When you have 4000 to 6000 people coming off ships at the same time there will be queues.
Even if there was an instant seat for everyone, the traffic would be backed up. Think about borading a plane, catching the cruise ship, catching the ferry. Think about rush hour for a few hundred in cars backing up. then apply that to the numbers on these ships.
How many times do you guys at Dockyard need to be told…
The Cruise Ship Tourists are NOT going to pay $16 a person for a bus ride to the friggin beach!
GO ASK THEM!
Keep quiet please u’lot around there…The One Bermuda Alliance are doing the right thing for all parties concerned. Granted, maybe they could have devised a new and improved system after the of peak tourist season but,now “the gate opened and the horses are on the track”.
As mentioned in that interview with the Govt. Minister and the W.E.D.C.O. Reps.(figuratively speaking)”they have their finger tip on the pulse”. The way I see it there’s more work for many others as oppose to the Govt.buses taking it and leaving only “smiggets” for others…
Sounds like one of de grassroots recipients that was on de payroll.
LMFAO
This is unacceptable, but hardly a political point.
The PLP allowed exactly the same thing to happen under their watch and clearly did nothing to fix it.
But we were supposed to have voted for change @ Luis Suarez??
Ya, changed for WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMFAO
I’m not making political points on a bus line, but what you got was a heck of a lot better than the shambles that went before, but I agree somewhat. The OBA need to show me new hotels not breaking ground, solve the PRC issues don’t pander to ugly PLP protectionism and close the BIUs powers.
The problem with the OBA is that they have been too nice. Drive changes through – that’s what I voted for.
@ Kunta. We all know that’s not true. The PLP were a disgrace, the OBA just disappointing.
Not only had they done the same things but the Union stopped all Public Transportation from operating leaving tourist and locals alike all over the Island,”not knowing their a***s-from-their-elbows”
Now what could have been worst, having people waiting for our Public Transport that was not going to come or, waiting in long lines to get into a Public bus?
Typo: Now what could have been worse etc.
Very normal to have lines when people get off cruise ship…Doesn’t mean they have been there for long.
I’ve been on a number of cruises and folks line up for public transportation, walk or form lines for tours. there is some waiting in all cases. Normal.
We can’t ascertain if these people have been waiting for too long, or how long the line is (except number of people in the picture).
Without more evidence, this smacks of the PLP picking on the Govt and transport operators.
(my comments seem to have dissapeared ???)
ah they have appeared.
My apologies for the repetition.
The PLP normally claims that any crowd bigger than 25 was 3,000 people.
@ Creamy,
Lol. Yes and by using the PLP’s new ‘agitator calculator’ the numbers continue to grow day by day and speech by speech LMAO.
There is a one lane road out of dockyard
There is only a one lane road on the entire Island.
Bite em Suarez.
And to think that Bermuda is considering blasting and dredging the channels to bring in bigger ships. You watch, if this happens Royal Caribbean will be sending the 6,500 passenger Oasis of the Seas. The Liberty of The Seas coming next summer will have an extra 1,000 passengers than the Explorer. Think about the hotel guests, you will drive the few you have left away for good. Venice has just banned all cruise ships.
Excellent points you have made Jeff…Now we must / need to let our Government Ministers know what is “fiction from reality”.
This should have been sorted out before summer started. SMH
The other thing I get from this article: the Ministry of Transport effectively told everyone that they’re going alone, and ignoring the BIU.
So much for the chance of getting together around the table. Bipartisanship is dead.
@ Varied is good,
I disagree as the Ministry has no choice but to go it alone, the BIU will not willingly help to create a new transportation system in Dockyard that will negatively affect their members ability to earn Overtime pay. Nor will they aide the Govt in diminishing the power that they hold over the Island as a whole when they down tools and hold the Island (& the tourists) to ransom.
Though I agree this is something that should have been planned and implemented better I don’t see Wedco and the Govt having much choice in making these changes. The PTB buses are stretched to breaking point, not enough money to adequately maintain and purchase new ones and the island holding its breath hoping that there are no industrial incidents is not a transportation strategy it’s actually playing with fire.
Case in point, how many years have we been waiting for the new bus schedule (9/10 years I believe??)and how many times have the Union members rejected the proposed schedules put forth? Sorry but I don’t expect the BIU to help bring about a solution to this especially if it will marginalizes themselves; its not gonna happen.
Carry on Wedco and MOT but please get the kinks out asap.
At least 10 years. Back when Dr. Brown was Min Trans he tried to get more efficient bus schedules in place but nothing came of it. Since then, status quo. And yes, frustrating for all parties.
So yes, perhaps the BIU put themselves in this position by playing hard ball, but I’d like to have seen an olive branch and them at least approached to come to the table by the OBA/Wedco.
Under the OBA our tourism business revenues are upside down . The BTA is taking but not giving . The bike basket bandits are getting YouTube play . Wedco and the tourism minister are putting personal profit over people and ruining many excited tourist Bermuda experience .
Now it’s time to dig into the ownership of the eleven mini bus licenses issued by this tourism minister . Stay tuned but don’t be surprised by the results !
That is utter BS delivered by you, a PLP puppet. Angry you are no longer feeding at all of our expense much.
I’m sorry , please be advised that the OBA are on record for paying dedicated bloggers . So what’s in your wallet?
One thing about them that are “diehard” P.L.P. followers / supporters,(and I give them credit)they don’t give up / nor into the truth. What’s that old saying about, “If enough people were to tell you something is a horse then saddle it up and ride em”. That my fellow Islanders is the technique used by the Progressive Labour Party and their representatives.
Ray come out of Tucker’s Town ! Diehard UBP’ers turned into diehard OBA’ers overnight . Tell me how did that happen ! Nobody saw that coming , I dear say not even you , but there you are Raymond lead by the nose ,willing to defend BS like Jetgate ! But then again I bet you can’t help yourself .
I laugh at people like yourself “Coffee”. You’re afraid to let the Island know who you really are so you hide behind made up names and tell stories…(Sort-a-like believing in fairy tales) But, I guess you can’t help yourself either…Sad yes, but true init?
By “on record” you mean the PLP says it and you believed it.
Basically. I’m also wondering what the bike basket bandits have to do with the oba. I’m almost positive it has everything to do with fall out of the previous government and the desperate situation the plp left a lot of us in with their fiscal mismanagement/”investment in infrastructure”.
So another OBA record spinner … Come up to speed with the OBA grassroots campaign . $435000 spent on bloggers and other propaganda to secure the OBA victory in the last election . Right outta the chops of Stephen Decosta … You know the guy who bummed a ride on the jet with the now disgraced ex premier and still leader of the OBA .
With the bike bandits making the rounds on YouTube , the OBA continues to throw good money after bad in the funding of the BTA . Crimes may be on the decline in Bermuda , but you wouldn’t know it with vulnerable tourist having handbags snatched in broad daylight and the commission of the crime broadcasted all over the NET !
These unorgnizers are ruining Bermuda these people will not come to bermuda again. If I went on a cruise and had to deal with long waits and lines and saw that all traffic had to leave via a one lane road. Sick sick
A group of Bermudians had an idea to operate their already water orintated businesses at Admiralty House this would have moved 500 people out of dockyard for a five min boat ride to Admiralty House where lots if new jobs could have been created
The tourism athority said they were interested but have nothing to offer to help this along.
This idea would have created individual Bermudians entrepreneurs with business like beach rentals including floats and fun games music. Water slide paddle boards and boats rentals. Plus so much more. All done by Bermudians. And it would be for locals and visitors.
Tell me why it is that 6 Bermudians coming together to create 50 jobs for Bermudians is not being entertained. If Bermuda had something like this for Visitors they will return to Bermuda but your lines at dockyard will mess up Bermuda the world will forget about us.
Coffee: Wake up and smell the coffee. Unlike the PLP, OBA doesn’t need to pay people to support them.
Elizabeth, there’s but one word to describe that Coffee character and it’s,”ignoramuses”.
But they have . As a matter of fact $350000.00 wasn’t near enough ! They needed much more !
Ok….let me see…a solution….to preserve Bermudas reputation….but zane ….you do realise that would require your not being an Mp at all…
All my brethren,the OBA is the way forward.
This is not an OBA or PLP debate. This is a Bermuda island problem. As a tourist, I would avoid Dockyard if a ship or two were docked there. However, if I were a ship tourist, I would not be happy to stand in a long line for transportation to a beach or other part of the island. Remember the tourist wants the Bermuda experience and there is a very short time for them to see how beautiful the island is and who knows plant a seed to return by plan the next time.
Bermuda used to be our favorite place to visit. The last time we visited in 2012, the union shut down all public transportation for a union meeting so we were stuck at the Dockyard our last full day in Bermuda. Now we are visiting again in October and all this crap is going on extorting “shuttle fees” to get out of the Dockyard and they won’t even take us where we’d like to go! If we cannot get to the South beaches, Gibb Lighthouse and the Swizzle Inn for a reasonable fare (NOT $16 that doesn’t get us there) – we will just stay on the ship and give our money to the cruise line since Bermuda obviously isn’t interested in tourists spending money in Bermuda any more. Depending on how this shakes out by October, this may be our last visit to Bermuda. This really makes me sad but there is no reason to go where we are not welcome.
Hi Peg, hope you do have a good time when you visit this year. Maybe by that time, the options to you will be clear cut, maybe some of the shuttles can take you on various tours vs straight Horseshoe or whatever, if taxi fares are too high and buses unreliable
Wedco is not in the transport business, their business is to maintain the buildings, grounds, etc.
Wedco sometimes being greedy is not good.