Transportation Strike Creates Chaos

Citizens of Tegucigalpa were forced to walk to their workplaces yesterday. Hundreds of bus and transportation stations were found empty, with no options for people to get around. Hundreds of people, including mothers with children in their arms and packages, and elderly people, some carrying their goods to sell on their back, had to walk long distances to reach their destination. One elderly woman walked over four miles carrying a wooden box and plastic chair which to sell her wares.

The rain of criticism from the users was immediate, and dozens of affected people denounced the bad state 40 percent of the vehicles are in, the lack of security, and ill-treatment they receive from many “spoiled” drivers and conductors.

What was billed as a “march” to remind the government of their financial commitments, ended up completely paralyzing the capital, and may continue on Wednesday.

At 5:00 a.m. in the morning, the leaders, transporters and drivers went on indefinite strike yesterday because the government has not yet paid them a cash bonus for 2009, allegedly amounting to some 220 million Lempiras. Some 1,600 urban transportation vehicles planned to move through the four cardinal points of the city, in the direction of Government House and the National Congress. The intention was to only occupy the right lane of the main roads, but it managed to completely paralyze the capital. One can click here to learn more about Wynne Transport Service in case there is need for it.

In addition to paying the millions, carriers are asking the government to decree a ban for 10 years on the granting of operating permits. The drivers are claiming that by March of next year, there would be around 6 thousand more vehicles entering the competition, which now already exceeds 320 thousand vehicles.

“We want to apologize to the people being affected, but we are not asking to increase rates…” said Armando Andino, manager of the Investment Company Transport SA (Itsa).

According to the carrier, the government agreed to pay a subsidy to drivers, so they would not increase the fares. If there is no response, they would have to increase the bus fare to six lempiras, which is 100 percent of the current cost, which is three lempiras.

They also ask that a number of illegal transport vehicles, which charge 70 percent higher fares, be removed from circulation. In his view, some 600 units are working illegally, and charging 10 Lempiras per person.

“We just want the government to hear our cries. We spent a year of waiting for what is right and fair, and there should be more interest in this area, which is the backbone of the economy,” said to Ridel Ventura, the President of Syndicated Urban Transportation.

“We give the National Congress until tomorrow (today) to resolve this situation, otherwise Wednesday we will continue with the same dynamics, or perhaps stronger measures of pressure,” Ventura proclaimed.


5 Responses to "Transportation Strike Creates Chaos"

  1. Axel Reyes Bogran  December 18, 2009 at 10:14 am

    And do not forget to remind Obama & Co. that this is the people that they believe should take Honduras back to the “Path of Democracy” as they call it.

    This is as much on their hands as well as the actual perpetrators, for the support they lent that stupid puppet, Zelaya, is what gives this cowards the feeling of being correct in their actions.

    Some body that high up in the hierarchy of politixal power should be more conciencious and aware of who they support.

    There is no excuse for them, when you choose to support a way of thinking, you automatically become responsinble for the consequential actions.

    Shame on you Obama & Clinton.

    This is why Honduras needs to clear her name, so this vandals can be seen for they are, tyranic idealists.

  2. Axel Reyes Bogran  December 18, 2009 at 10:08 am

    In an un-related (but related) story, I found out the most unfortunate ocurrance to date since Zelaya attempted to turn our beautiful Honduras into a personal ranch.

    The young (and expecting mother to be) daughter of a reporter in Honduras was killed as an act of reprisal because of the nature of news that reporter announced.

    They were not in agreement with Zelaya’s actions and therefore she became an enemy of the resistance.

    As a clear manifestation of how those people view the freedom of expression act and the determination of which Humans have Rights according to them, they targeted her daughter who was barely 16 years old, a mother to be, pregnant 7 months already.

    This is the action of cowards, and more than that, one of the worst crimes a human being can commit against another, the attempt to kill a baby, still in her mother’s womb.

    This is the kind of people who want to take control of our nation’s leadership.

    We can not allow this to happen, and this crime should not go unpunished.

    Forget the courts and the proper procedures to take the perpetrators to trial.

    All members of the “Resistance” could and should pay for this act of cowardice and indescriminate violence.

    They are taking revenge on a private citizen for expressing her dislike of their failed leader, they should all be hung and then decapitated.

    Amnesty International and Human Right Org., where are you when real crimes against inocent humans are commited??

  3. Axel Reyes Bogran  December 16, 2009 at 12:10 pm

    I agree with you jamespadgett, on both accounts, that is a selfish and self-centered attitude to have and display, and also about the fact that Zelaya related people, or some who think like him are involved in all of this.

    It is extremelly surprising to me that some of the same so-called Honduras loving people are now taking an attitude that can only bring more stress on an economic system that finds it self in dire need of fixing it self, not of burdening itself even more with the selfish actions of some people who are not willing to share that burden, it is not as if the transportation business people were faltering and starving.

  4. jamespadgett  December 15, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    I smell Zelaya all over this strike.

  5. jamespadgett  December 15, 2009 at 9:54 pm

    This seems like a very very selfish self-centered thing to do … in light of how the Honduran economy has been crippled since June 27 – due to all the countries that cut aid, visas, etc.
    They should realize they have it very good as compared with a great many Hondurans who have had to live on half of what they normally do since June 27.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login