Tuesday 09 September
2008, San José, Costa
Rica
Marriages of Convenience
At An End in Costa Rica
Homes Damaged and
Traffic Chaos Resulting
From Afternoon Tornado
Costa Rica and Nicaragua
Hold 7th Bilateral
Meeting
Hiring
Expectations In Costa Rica With A
Positive Outlook
Bus Driver Lunched For
Providing Bad Service
Bus, Taxi,
Train and Mail Services All Looking For
Rate Hikes
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Bus Driver Lunched For
Providing Bad Service
Users of the bus service
between San Antonio de
Belén-Alajuela had
gotten used to the bad
service and abuses of
the drivers and the poor
mechanical condition of
the buses they rode each
day. However, a group of
residents yesterday got
fed up and lashed out
against one of the
drivers.
With banners, flags, the
young and old, men and
women, surrounded one of
the buses, closed off
passage by placing a
tree trunk in the
roadway, stopping all
buses on the route from
providing service.
In addition, the group
took out their
frustrations on one of
the drivers, lynching
him until the Fuerza
Pública (police) could
get to the scene to
restore order.
The melé occurred on the
main road in Barrio La
Candelaria that runs on
the south end of the
Juan Santamaría
international airport.
One area resident said
it was clear that the
owners of the buses
scratched out "2007" and
replaced it with "2008"
on the marchamo (annual
circulation permit) of
the bus that caused the
group to lose its
patience and lash out in
anger.
The near riot situation
lasted for two hours, as
the group demanded
action by the Ministerio
de Obras Públicas y
Transportes (MOPT) to
intervene and put an end
to the bad business
practices of the "tres
hermanos" - three
brothers - who own the
buses and the route
concession.
Following the
intervention of the
Fuerza Pública and the
Policía de Tránsito
(traffic police) the
group disbanded, but
continued their protest
at different points
along the route and
vowed to continue with
more blockades unless
the viceministra de
Transportes, Viviana
Martín, listens to their
demands. |
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