THE GOVERNMENT and the National Transport Co-operative Society (NTCS) are to re-start their negotiations early next month, the talks having broken down in September.
Ezroy Millwood, president of the NTCS, told The Gleaner yesterday that at a meeting between his team and Dr. Peter Phillips, Transport and Works Minister, earlier this month, it was agreed that the negotiations would continue even as the NTCS airs an aspect of its case in the court.
"We had a meeting with the minister and he said he was not as involved as he ought to be in the negotiations and that he is prepared to share in the remaining meetings," said Mr. Millwood.
Mr. Millwood suggested that the minister would be playing a more intergral role in the discussions, which have up to now been conducted by a ministry team, headed by Dr. Alwin Hales, Permanent Secretary.
Dr. Phillips could not be reached for comment yesterday as he was off the island.
The government has been negotiating with the NTCS since April for the take-over of its Portmore and Northern franchises which control several bus routes in the Corporate Area and Portmore. However, Dr. Phillips put the negotiations on hold recently after Mr. Millwood filed a case in the Supreme Court, claiming over $5 billion in compensation for the remaining five years on the 10-year franchises.
Mr. Millwood filed the suit after claiming that the government's terms of reference for compensation did not include the unused portion of the franchises but only dealt with payment for their acquisition by government. The NTCS is claiming over $1 billion for the termination of the franchises.
At the meeting earlier this month, it was agreed between both parties that negotiations would continue with the aim of arriving at a suitable figure for the termination of the franchises, while leaving the court to decide on compensation for the unused portion.
"However if we can come to a gentleman's agreement with the compensation for termination, then we could use that experience in negotiating the unused portion of the franchises," Mr. Millwood said.
The NTCS boss noted that for the next meeting, Dr. Phillips has requested a fresh valuation of the 400 buses in the co-operative as well as an up-to-date list of the persons in the NTCS who are interested in selling their buses as part of the compensation package.
