THE ASSOCIATION OF Public Transport Operators (APTO) appears to be heading for a major confrontation over its leadership and direction.
In a telephone interview yesterday, president Morris Lee said the association would be meeting today at 4 p.m in the science auditorium of the Barbados Community College “to discuss serious events which they must be made aware of”, and called for all owners and operators to attend.
This meeting was called following another last Sunday convened by vice-president Judy Forde to discuss the Transport Authority’s regulations and concessionaire system.
However, Lee subsequently was quoted in the Press saying Forde had no right to call such a meeting, as not only did she not have the backing of the executive’s members, but was barred by resolution from speaking on behalf of the association.
When contacted yesterday, Forde confirmed she would be attending today’s meeting, adding she was not “in the least” concerned about any resolution against her as APTO had no working constitution.
She added she had called the meeting last week as Lee had “refused” to do so.
“The executive committee has been an interim one for four years. There should have been a permanent body elected years ago. Also, we have never met to ensure APTO had a constitution to legally and effectively operate.
“So how could this interim committee, charged with the responsibility of setting up a regulatory framework for APTO, and with no constitution, bring a resolution against anybody?” she asked.
Forde said today’s meeting should be less concerned with her and more with “effective, decisive leadership”.
However, Lee, said there was a draft constitution in place but it would take time for the document to be ratified.
“All of the executive, including Forde, are in possession of a draft constitution which I gave them for perusal. APTO came into existence in 2008/2009, not four years ago, as an amalgamation of four separate organizations – the National Transit Co-op; the Minibus Association; the ZR Association of Barbados and the Route Taxi Association – and there have been so many challenges that even something as important as a constitution has not received the attention it deserves. However, it is currently being fine-tuned to suit the industry’s needs,” he said.
As for leadership, Lee said this was one issue which would be on the agenda of today’s meeting but did not confirm whether he would be seeking the post of president again.
While Forde had already been quoted as saying she no longer had any interest in leadership, she told the SUNDAY SUN she was currently meeting with operators who were asking her to reconsider her stand.
