‘Code Red’ threatens to take buses off road

President of the National Omnibus Association Anthony ‘Code Red’ Bacchus is threatening strike action if the Government institutes laws to remove music from the minibuses.

Bacchus issued this warning during a press conference at the Haddon Hotel on Tuesday.

“People have a tendency of blaming all minivans for loud music, but it doesn’t pertain to all the vans. There is word on the street that they will be taking out the radios and music out of the minivans. If they do, we are gonna shut down, because it is just a 10 per cent that is being disrespectful and a menace to society, and we would like that 10 per cent to be dealt with swiftly,” the NOBA president said sternly.

However, during his weekly talk show on Star FM on Tuesday, Minister of Transport and Works Julian Francis said that he is not aware of any move being made to take music out of minibuses.

“Well, I didn’t say we going take the music system out of the van. I don’t know if the police say so; I don’t think the police say so,” Francis said.

Bacchus during the press conference, however, stated that he does not condone loud and lewd music in vans.

“NOBA doesn’t respect that, we don’t tolerate that.”

He is suggested that as an alternative, decibel meters should be used to measure how loud the music being played in vans is.

“…if any van driver is caught with the music over that level, you are subject to get your music removed from the vans,” the NOBA president proposed.

He noted, however, that only a few vans play very loud music.

“We are asking these vans that doing that to please turn the music down or NOBA will do what they can do in their power to remove you off the street because you are a menace to society,” Bacchus said.

Francis agreed with Bacchus that there needs to be something done about the loud music being played in vans; however, he is skeptical as to whether a decibel meter is what is required to deal with the problem.

The Minister jokingly added that decibel meters would break if they are put in vans, because of how loud some of the music is.

He said that there needs to be a serious approach and constant reprimand by the police.

“The answer to this is not to threaten strike,” Francis said.

He pointed out that while striking might make someone late for work, they are going to feel it in their pockets as well.

“So, you spend thousands of dollars to put a big sound system in it to get this big booming sound coming down the road and then the police charges you and something happens and the courts make the decision and you say you going strike,” Francis stated.