OBA: 'Mr & Mrs Bermuda Remain Stranded' - Bernews

“Sadly, Mr & Mrs Bermuda remain stranded, as the DPT does not yet appear to have presented a workable set of bus rosters to the bus operators,” Shadow Tourism and Transport Minister Leah Scott said.

Ms Scott said, “I read with great astonishment, Chris Furbert’s statement, that ‘We are so much closer today than we were 17 years ago….we’re at the finish line; we are right there where we need to be.’

“It is astounding, and indeed downright appalling to me that some 17 years later [and yes the OBA administration also falls within that period], and several hundreds of thousands of dollars later that Chris Furbert can honestly say, with a straight face, that we are right where we need to be!

“It should be equally as appalling to every single taxpayer who has funded this decade and a half long travesty with our tax dollars. Perhaps if Mr Furbert had to utilize and rely on public transportation, he wouldn’t be so cavalier.

“My understanding is that the 1998 bus roster was prepared by former bus operators – you know – the people who actually do the work and understand the routes. It is also my understanding that the Canadian consultant that has been working with the DPT also has an associate working with him on the rosters.

“If one consultant can’t get it done, then I guess two can? How much more money, inconvenience and frustration do Mr & Mrs Bermuda have to endure before this situation is resolved?

“Mr Furbert stated at his press conference that the updated rosters would be presented back to the workers this week – maybe Tuesday, and that there would be a 21 day picking cycle from the time of the posting of the rosters.

“Well folks…it’s Wednesday. Yesterday there were nine bus cancellations for the morning. Five bus runs were cancelled on Monday and a staggering 33 bus runs were cancelled on Friday, February 1.

“We are heading into our tourist season. Thanks to the mammoth efforts of the Bermuda Tourism Authority, our tourism numbers are increasing, not decreasing, and this year looks to be another record year in terms of visitor numbers.

“It is regrettable that our public transportation system is not keeping pace and, disappointingly, it is fast becoming less and less of a viable option for Mr & Mrs Bermuda and the general public. We have spent a ton of money in our efforts to obtain reliable transportation and instead of progress, it continues to regress.

“Although subsidized by public tax dollars, public transportation is not a social welfare programme – it is a vital, essential public utility.

“While Chris Furbert thinks we are at the finish line, and the Government may believe that it’s ok to continue to cancel bus routes daily, the truth of the matter is that public transportation is a lifeline for people who literally have no other way to get around. It’s about time that public transportation was treated as such.

“Mr Furbert – we are nowhere near the finish line….in fact, we haven’t even left the depot.”