Buses Resume Today, Full Service Tomorrow
[Updated] The Department of Public Transportation has announced the resumption of bus services under the following terms today [Jan 5], with full bus services set to resume tomorrow.
Regarding services today, a government spokesperson said, “Central Terminal Kiosk is to be open from 4:00pm closing at 7:00pm as normal; there will be seven night buses [as per any normal day]; and all rush hour buses leaving Hamilton from 5:00pm onward.
“The following buses will be departing from Dockyard and St. George’s at the times and on the routes listed below. They will continue to assist with whatever routes needed to ensure that the rush hour people get home.
“It is very likely that they will do loop runs back and forth to and from Dockyard and St. George’s as needed.”
Dockyard to Hamilton [Inbound]
- 3:35pm – Route 7 South Shore Road
- 3:50pm – Route 8 Middle Road
St. George’s to Hamilton [Inbound]
- 3:15pm – Route 10 North Shore/Palmetto Road
- 3:45pm – Route 11 North Shore Road
- 4:12pm – Route 3 Harrington Sound/Middle Road
“There will be a full resumption of bus service tomorrow morning.”
Update 5.06pm: Minister of Tourism, Transport and Municipalities Michael Fahy said, “I am very pleased to see the Bermuda Industrial Union members have decided to return to work.
“Although this work stoppage primarily involved the bus operators, it does immeasurable damage to the Bermuda community as a whole when people are unable to conduct business and children are unable to attend school. I am grateful for other employees who carried on working, such as the ferry operators – thank you.
“It is extremely disappointing that the withdrawal of labour occurred even in the absence of a labour issue. This really defies common sense. It means that union members and their households suffer a loss in pay over a matter unrelated to their own situation.”
The Minister added, “There appears to be an agenda here, on the part of a minority in the BIU, to stop Bermuda’s economic recovery.
“It is troubling that the BIU president stated at today’s press conference that the “threat to The America’s Cup” is still on the table.
“This, in effect, seems designed to hold Bermuda hostage. It cannot be the way forward for the island.
“Many Bermudians and guest workers have been hard at work and dedicated in their efforts to revive our economy. We still have a long way to go to broaden the benefits of recovery across all Bermudian families.
“But the actions of the BIU these past few days has been a hindrance to those efforts. And it does a disservice to the very people unions are here to help.”
