Bus talks at a standstill

No progress was made yesterday in the ongoing dispute between the government and route bus owners over subsidies for 2005 and no talks took place between the two sides.

The Public Transport Association, which is claiming that the government's proposed subsidy of Lm1.1 million is short of its request by Lm300,000, ordered industrial action last week with the result that bus routes stopped working after 8 p.m., except routes 11, 19, 22, 45, 48, 49, 62 and 70. Route 75, the direct bus service linking towns and villages to St Luke's Hospital, was also suspended as a sign of protest.

The association warned on Thursday night that it would start handing out termination of employment notices to 40 workers as from Monday after Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett failed to contact the PTA for further discussions.

The minister, on the other hand, has stuck to his guns saying that the government would deduct Lm2,000 a day from the subsidy until directives are lifted and Lm5,000 for every employee sacked by the PTA.

The Roads Ministry also stated that the government was ready to resume discussions, which had to include measures on how to reduce the costs of running the bus service.