Comments on: Video: BIU President On Beach Minibus Service

By: Mumbojumbo

Mumbojumbo — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:59:54 +0000

Take the drole out …put the excitement and wonder back in…..at the same time traverse the ocean in safety……..all we lack is design!How many summersables have difficulty with weather????

By: PBanks

PBanks — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:26:15 +0000

It is a bit rich coming from him, but the statement is still true.

By: PBanks

PBanks — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:24:12 +0000

Probably… but *somebody* should try to be ‘the bigger man’ in any case

By: X man

X man — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 10:52:41 +0000

Not a good comment Ray’ – but everybody has a bad moment – generally you have some fairly good things to say but this one takes the cake!
You know and I know that we need these Mega Cruise Ships in order to survive.
Its so simple – the more Visitors a Ship can carry to our shores the more beneficial to Bermuda. –geesh even the PLP
knew that!

By: Karma

Karma — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 02:55:40 +0000

Nope…as long as the BIU exists…

By: Tested

Tested — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 02:06:11 +0000

They were part of discussions even with the previous government. Remember, the PLP forgave the BUI for monies owed monies owed, and the BIU agreed to stop the wildcat strikes to ensure we had a reliable PUBLIC transportation system. Mr. BIU called a island wind emergency meeting and marches over Kentucky Fried Chicken. All that needed to happen was the KFC employees could have striked and been just as effective.

Why keep talking with those you can’t rely on?

By: Tested

Tested — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:58:09 +0000

Ray, I often agree with you, but not today. No government gets to “pick” what size cruise ships come here. The cruise companies have a fleet of ships, and they are all getting much bigger while the older ships are being phased out. Unfortunately, these Megaships draw to much water an can not get by two rock passage safely. If we didn’t step up and accommodate the ships, they just go places where they can be accommodated.

By: Tested

Tested — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 01:51:20 +0000

JH – exactly what I thought.

We all believe – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, with all the bus problems and BIU wildcat strikes that left tourists stranded in previous years – the Public Transport System is not reliable and is therefore broke.

After the BIU wrongfully in my opinion (and successfully) defended a Ferry Pilot and bus drivers that had accidents and were found to be under the influence – the BIU and the PTB workers lost the respect of many, many, many people. The same can be said about how a certain few VERY RUDE bus drivers continue to be protected.

Mr. Furbert, you and the PTB drivers created this mess, and others are taking advantage of the opportunities and weaknesses in the market Right or wrong – that’s how businesses evolve and new ones are born.

A long time ago people used Horse drawn Carriages and Rowboats, then Taxis and Ferries, and then Buses and Fast Ferries. If there is a void in the marketplace these Wedco Mini Buses will fill it. If the mini bus drivers get it right and provide a pleasurable and efficient experience they will improve and expand. Maybe instead of complaining and defending, you should encourage drivers to be sober, courteous and accommodating. Then maybe people might actually start to respect you and the BIU like they did when Bro Ottiwell ran things. he was firm – but fair, not always loved – but always respected.

By: Kangoocar

Kangoocar — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 23:58:36 +0000

I almost sprayed my cocktail all over my iPad!!! Furby says ” anytime you have to wait for public transport for over 2 hours, Now that is excessive” he must be suffering from amnesia today??? How many frickin times has he called out the transportation workers for meetings of nonsense over the years???? ALOT’ is the answer”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He seems to have no problem with disrupting locals and visitors when he wants too??? HMMMM!!!!!!!!

By: Varied is good

Varied is good — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:01:53 +0000

I think you were called out on this misinformation a while ago (there are Govt-run buses in the Caribbean) but youve kept the same argument, why is this? Take that statement out and your argument would have more credibility.

By: Varied is good

Varied is good — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:00:12 +0000

aha – so the claim is PTB is losing out on charter bus service revenue here? Interesting angle there, could explain the vested interest… although doesn’t explain why bus operators weren’t part of the initial discussions

By: Varied is good

Varied is good — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 21:57:42 +0000

wait, taxi drivers and minibus owners have been getting a ‘piece of the pie’ before this new system was in place. Only difference now appears to be that Wedco is now getting a cut of the action (not to mention the debacle of long waits previously)

By: somuchless

somuchless — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 20:36:23 +0000

Wedco wants their 10% of sales.

By: Evie

Evie — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:48:36 +0000

Mr. Ray that was the stupidest reply to date the Mega ships are the way the world is going we all know you want everything to be the fault of the former government but don’t be blind deaf and stupid Hahahahaha in your narrow view SMDH

By: Movement of Jah People

Movement of Jah People — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:29:48 +0000

The OBA are making sure taxi drivers and minibus drivers/owners get a piece of the pie.Well done!

By: Tourism And Transport Minister Visits Dockyard | Bernews.com

Tourism And Transport Minister Visits Dockyard | Bernews.com — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 19:26:04 +0000

[...] the new visitor transport system in place for cruise ship passengers, which has been the subject of news reports recently, with some complaints being registered over long waiting [...]

By: bluebird

bluebird — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:41:49 +0000

The Goverment is the “PROBLEM” and not the “SOLUTION”
From the Bahamas to Barbados there is not one Goverment run Bus Service or Ferry Service,in the Caribbean.
You can get around easily and without any trouble.
Do the bus driver still get (14) WEEKS SICK LEAVE every year ???
And they take it.

By: frank

frank — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 18:09:26 +0000

if that pier had not be built those ships and that money would not have been able to come here
the bus needed to stay and the mini buses should be used as extra transport simple

By: LiarLiar

LiarLiar — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 17:55:18 +0000

Agreed.

Unfortunately due to our poor tourism product offerings these behemoths are a necessary evil at this point in time.

By: Bill Stephens

Bill Stephens — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:58:07 +0000

Why doesnt Chris just drive one of the buses and be part of the solution and not whine constantly about the problem! Get up off your butt and move us forward – anyone can look back – you are an expert at doing that!

Public buses are for us – the Bermudian public at large – and we need to cater to our visitors with better than Public services and not have them subject to stupid people like Chris who want to strike while we are in season or randomly whenever it has media attention!

They pay to come here – they are our guests – they pay your bills act accordingly Chris!

By: Biu ripping the public off!

Biu ripping the public off! — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:46:20 +0000

Chris why don’t you tell the public about all those $95 per hr on Sundays this new system is saving them? Nice work if you can get it!

By: Bermuda man

Bermuda man — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:46:07 +0000

Right, so lets not build the pier and have no mega ship be able to dock to Bermuda. That would mean we would get no small Cruises and no mega cruises, leaving us to depend on air arrivals for tourist only or would you rather Bermuda spend 5 times as much to dredge a channel into Hamilton or St. Georges??

By: LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:27:22 +0000

Normally you post intelligent stuff, but your comment above shows lack of clarity. Larger cruise ships are the way things are going my friend. Have a look in the world news and not just the Bermuda news. The smaller cruise ships are starting to be less traveled and their numbers are also decreasing.

By: Dirk Gentley

Dirk Gentley — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:43:55 +0000

Come on, Mr. Furbert, why can’t someone else have a chance to strand tourists at the Dockyards and provide inefficient transportation services? PTB has had the monopoly on inconveniencing cruise ship passengers for years.

By: For real

For real — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:31:35 +0000

I must say Chriis Furbert must understand that this change allows the mini buses to take over the transport of people to and from the beach and allow are buses to be used for public transport and this will benefit the private and public sectors

By: Raymond Ray

Raymond Ray — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:30:29 +0000

The P.L.P. started bringing in ships that are far too large for our channels that lead into our former Ports of Call and now we, (Bermuda) has this problem that even “Lance Hayward could have seen coming”. So what do we do is the multi-million dollar question and no one seems to have an answer…yet Sad, but true. Here’s some advice,”bank in U.S.A. dollars”

By: Garrus

Garrus — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:29:28 +0000

Things were working well this year–until Wedco wanted a bigger piece of the pie and then thought, “why not take de whole damn thing?”

By: sonso

sonso — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:22:52 +0000

Nope, because that mega pier should not have been built in the first place!

By: JH

JH — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:21:25 +0000

If the buses hadn’t been pulled out so many times last year by the BIU, there would be no need for mini buses.

Take some responsibility and you might retain an ounce of credibility.

By: LiarLiar

LiarLiar — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:07:43 +0000

Can’t any Government get our transportation infrastructure/services right for these mega ships?