Government Intervenes in Punta Gorda Bus Route Dispute to Ease Tensions

Government officials have stepped in to help address the tensions between bus owners and the Punta Gorda Town Council. Yesterday, Minister of Rural Transformation Oscar Requena held a meeting with the Toledo Rural Bus Owners Association and members of the business community, to hear their concerns. Requena, who is also the area representative for Toledo West, was joined by several of his subordinates from his ministry and Toledo East area rep Dr. Osmond Martinez. The meeting was focused on issues that attendees are having with proposed changes to bus routes and designated parking being made by the Punta Gorda Town Council. They also discussed the need for a bus shed for commuters, which the association has been lobbying for over the past several months. Love News was there and spoke to Requena and Dr. Martinez about the outcome of the meeting. 

Oscar Requena, Minister of Rural Transformation: “The major areas of concern are the routes that the bus currently use here in Punta Gorda in terms of where they go. Then there’s also concerns with regards to the parking, among other issues that were discussed. I want to say that it was a very cordial and respectful meeting. We certainly took note of the concerns and the issues presented. We have a follow-up meeting with the Mayor and the Town Council at which we are going to present the concerns expressed by the bus owners and the business community.”

Dr. Osmond Martinez, Area Representative, Toledo East: “So the way forward now is that both Minister Requena, Oscar Requena and myself we will be meeting with Mayor Galvez and his Town Council next week Wednesday to share these concerns to them and at the same time to find… the best solution for both parties, in this case the actors that are here today and the town council. It is also important to state or to put on record that with the town council we are having a wonderful relationship. Mayor Galvez he wanted to be here today but due to another commitment that he had already scheduled himself for, he was not able to come.”

President of the Toledo Rural Bus Owners Association Manuel Coc said that the owners are asking the council to grant small concessions for drop-offs, pick-ups, and parking.

Manuel Coc, President, Toledo Rural Bus Owners Association: “What the bus owners don’t like is that now we are not allowed to go to the hospital. Coming to town, we are not allowed to go to the hospital to drop off some people, workers, and elders seeking medical attention. So this is the reason why the bus owners are not agreeing. Right now, as we are appealing to the mayor is that to give us the permission to use Jose Maria Nunez Street, come in the morning to drop off our passengers by the Smart office, then proceed all the way close to the hospital to drop off some workers and, again, elderly people who come to seek medical attention. Then go to the gas station, fuel up, and… to our designated parking space in the morning. Now, the departing time of the buses, we also want to ask, we are asking the mayor to allow us to go back to Jose Maria Nunez Street to pick our people, our customers 15-minute parking just to board our customers and then leave on departure time of the schedule, bus schedule.”

The meeting was held at the Punta Gorda Sporting Complex.