Bus Service “Suspended Until Further Notice”
[Updated] There will be an interruption in the public bus service this afternoon [April 9] to “facilitate Covid-19 testing for DPT employees” with service suspended at 3.00pm and “expected to resume by 7.00 pm this evening.”
This afternoon, a Government spokesperson said, “The Department of Public Transportation [DPT] is advising the public that there will be an interruption in the public bus service this afternoon [9 April] to facilitate Covid-19 testing for DPT employees.
“The service will be suspended at 3.00 pm today. It’s expected to resume by 7.00 pm this evening.
“The Department sincerely regrets and apologises for any inconvenience caused by this stoppage.
“However the DPT is committed to ensuring that health and safety of its staff and the public is a priority.”
Update 9.22pm: A Government spokesperson, “The Ministry of Transport advised this evening that regular bus service has not resumed, and has been suspended until further notice, due to the fact that bus operators have not returned to work.
The Minister of Transport Lawrence Scott said this evening, “We are working closely with the Bermuda Industrial Union to address operator concerns. As the community can appreciate, like other frontline workers public transport providers are critical to keeping our economy active as we navigate this outbreak.
“I know that the BIU leadership and membership share the goal of ensuring that those Bermudians who cannot work remotely can get to and from work. We hope to have an update on amicable resolution in due course.”
“The Ministry notes that it will update the public once service has resumed, and apologised for any inconvenience caused to commuters.”
Update April 10, 2pm: A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Transport takes this opportunity to thank the public for their patience while it works to resume bus service.
“With that, the Ministry advised that the Department of Public Transportation has enacted its health, safety and rigourous cleaning protocols, and is currently working with the Department of Health in preparation for the resumption of regular service. The public will be updated later today regarding any developments.”
As the island and world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing our best to provide timely and accurate information, and you can find more information on the links below.
- All: Our coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic here
- Bermuda Stats: Chart of the Bermuda stats here
- Vaccinations: Data covering vaccinations here
- Comprehensive: BermudaCovid.com website here
- Live Updates: Continuous updates here.
This could have been arranged yesterday, notifying the Public yesterday of today’s suspension. This was not put out to the Public ahead of proper time and leaves people stranded. Not proper communication, but unfortunately, this is what we have to expect from a government that doesn’t care. All we are is a bunch of numbers to be herded by the Government to be thrown this way and that way amidst a terrible Pandemic. End of the Workweek when people want to get home where they should be according to Covid protocols isn’t it!
They get this special treatment – the jumped the line for early access to vaccines, they get special testing, because they are an ‘essential service’.
Does anyone see the irony?
While many other essential service workers have been left behind since the beginning of all this.
So they all have to be tested at once? This makes no sense unless there is a legitimate concern of contamination…..
Surely the bus drivers were astute enough to all get a COVID-19 vaccination. Key workers who are in close contact with the public should do this to protect themselves and those they come in contact with.
Ditto…
!!!
I go to work every frigging day knowing that I have to breathe through a mask my entire day while I am at work. I work in retail. I see so many bus drivers driving their bus with no mask. It sickens me because I knew this would be the outcome. And now us as the people that pay all of our government employees again will have to suffer for the consequences of their poor decisions. We are dropping deeper and deeper into this hole. What is it going to take to save this island? Politics? We have have an opposition party that has no power so we are stuck with what we have. When was the last time you saw a W&E employee doing anything other than driving around in their new vehicles? We need our government to take control and right this sinking ship…….. sad to say I’m beginning to think that it’s to late! God save Bermuda.
The tests were all done at a private doctor’s office, paid for by taxpayers.
Here we go again. Every crisis is just an opportunity for f&f.
Why is anyone surprised? Government workers will drop tools, withdraw labor at the drop of a hat because they know “their” government will never censure them.
Rule # 1 . NEVER piss off your voter base.
I think we all forget who runs Bermuda. Firstly it’s the bus drivers, secondly it’s the union, thirdly it’s international business and fourthly on a photo finish it just might be the government.
The powers that be (Guess who) won’t right the ship because these foreigners are here with SAIL GP. No shut down, no Lockdown til it’s over. A lock-down would arrest this disease and stop it from continuing out of control. You can’t FOOL the PUBLIC!
The busses , which are essential to keep this Island running are suspended. This partially cripples the Island.
The hopes to is in these Vaccines. We will see. Lots of reports worldwide of bad health issues from these quick-Fire less- than -a-year made vaccines. Interestingly at the same time the Vaccines rolled out, the cases worldwide are rising sharply. What a Paradox! We will see how many more Variants come out this year, you can’t stop nature!
-Unhappy Bus Rider
Any Government employee who decides not to get vaccinated, or is vaccinated but then refuses to work, should forfeit their benefits. At best they can be placed on $500 per week allowance.
You have a choice to be vaccinated, however, if you choose not to be vaccinated, this does not give you the right to refuse to work because you fear the virus. But, wait a minute, these are workers who, in the past, have been allowed to call wildcat strikes with no consequences. If you consider the job to be too risky, then resign, there are plenty of Bermudian who would love the opportunity to have your government pay cheque and benefits.
This is not a good example for the 2.5 million dollar investors well done unions and Porly led party. PLP.