DECEMBER 2008

Dominican hoteliers slam the bus driver unions’ « chaos »

Transit paralyzed in Bávaro and Punta Cana

BREAKING NEWS: BAVARO.- The president of the Hotels and Restaurants Association called to use of some means that jeopardizes the country irresponsible, such as the conflict between rivals for union posts which Wednesday paralyzed transit in Bavaro and Punta Cana, a situation she said the drivers should solve among themselves.

Haydee Kuret de Rainieri said it’s irresponsible to cause problems that can lead the country to lose tourists and saidyesterday’s situation was chaos for the Eastern zone’s hotels, because the drivers of the unions Sichotrature and Sichotraopa abandoned their buses parked on both sides of the road in the town La Otra Banda, leaving thousands of workers and tourists stranded.

She warned that tourism is the base of the economy and that the drivers’ attitude brought chaos because businesses need a certain amount of personnel for their services, which yesterday had to be supplied only by the employees who live in those facilities.

She said the tourists couldn’t get the services they pay for and this affects the country’s image because upon their return home, won’t remember the seven days of good service but recall the one day when everything failed.

Dominican Today, 11.12.08