Govt: Bus & Ferry Service Resumed Operation
[Updated] The Ministry of Transport confirmed that “ferry service has resumed operation on a regular schedule” and said they “will provide an update later today on when the bus service will resume.”
The ferry service had been suspended since September 21, and the bus service has been suspended since September 17.
A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that the ferry service has resumed operation on a regular schedule.
“The Ministry will provide an update later today on when the bus service will resume. Minibuses continue to service the core routes bus routes # 1, 3, 7, 8, 10 and 11 on the hour from 7 am to 7 pm. All minibuses will operate according to the Ministry of Health’s Guidance for Public Transportation.
“The Ministry appreciates the public’s patience and apologises for the inconvenience. We will provide an update later today.
“The Ministry is reminding the public that each of us has a role to play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Please follow Public Health guidelines, wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance and download the WeHealth Bermuda App.”
Update 6.13pm: The Ministry of Transport “confirmed that the bus service has resumed at 1pm and all bus routes are currently being serviced.”
Minister of Transport Lawrence Scott said, “We are pleased that bus and ferry service has resumed. We are grateful to the public for their patience and acknowledge residents who have stepped in to help others with transportation over the past ten days.”
Minister Scott added, “Now that buses are operational, I’d like to remind passengers of the health and safety protocols. All passengers must follow Public Health guidelines and wear their mask fitted correctly to cover their nose and mouth, sanitise their hands when entering the bus. Each of us has a role to play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus.”
Bernews has asked if the operators are being paid for the time that service was suspended, and will update as able.
In addition, the Government website posted a list of bus cancellations for this afternoon [Sept 29], with the list indicating that there are twenty-eight bus runs cancelled today.
Update: A Government spokesperson said, “The Ministry of Transport is pleased that the laws of Bermuda have been respected, and the bus operators returned to work earlier today following the Gazetting of a labour dispute on Monday by the Minister of Labour. The Ministry is also pleased that the staff represented by the Bermuda Industrial Union at the Department of Marine and Ports returned to work today.
“When a matter has been referred by the Minister of Labour for Arbitration, parties are able to come to an agreement in advance of a tribunal. At this time, there is no finalised agreement on this matter, and if/when an agreement is finalised in advance of a tribunal, that will be shared with the public in the interest of full transparency.
“The Ministry is grateful for the men and women who continue to work on the front line to provide public services during this outbreak of the Delta Variant. Everyone has a role to play in stopping the spread of the coronavirus. Please follow Public Health guidelines, wear a mask, practice good hand hygiene, maintain physical distance and download the WeHealth Bermuda App.”
Glad to see the ferries back working esp since the Breakaway cruise ship will be in port today.
In the absence of any explanation, one can only presume that the PLP Government caved into the demands of the BUI, since the BIU said it would not even discuss a return to work until its demands were met (http://bernews.com/2021/09/minister-provides-update-public-bus-service/).
Thank You Marine & Ports Workers. That’s not your fight.
Can the people who paid all this money for monthly passes for buses and the ferry get some of their money back or half….. for a October pass???
Make you application to the BIU. The PLP Government is bankrupt.
Why is the ministry apologizing for the union withdrawing their service? In my mind BIU should be saying sorry.
The BIU never apologises. Its twin, the PLP, does.
I really hope the BIU are paying something to the workers.
I hope the government is transparent enough to tell us what the deal was and who got paid or not …..we will see !
Fat chance. A deal was struck and the Government caved. BIU runs Bermuda.
Clearly Government caved and paid the bus personnel their wages. Time for the private sector to stop paying taxes. The BIU extortion will continue.
Not necessarily. Perhaps because the matter has been sent to arbitration, the union has to tell the workers to go back to work and wait for the tribunal to decide whether the unions labor withdrawal deserves to be paid for by the government.
A PATI request will be needed to try and find out the under the table deal reached. Won’t be long before Bermuda runs out of money and IB leave because of the downgrade of Bermuda’s credit rating. Then what?
We’ve had strike days with the buses in August and September which has impacted those who depend on public transportation. Hopefully you will take this in account and allow people with monthly passes to ride free for the month of October. I have spent all of my October money for a pass on cab fare.