Independent truckers have called on the Transport Minister to disclose permits granted to tractor trailer dumpsters as a matter of public interest.

The Bermuda General Truckers Association wants to see the permits given to the larger trucks which state they can transport aggregate, in order to check their legality against The Motor Car Act 1951.

Truckers say the Act restricts the larger dumpsters to carrying demolition rubble such as bulk concrete, steel, and other heavy materials.

Many however, have been seen transporting aggregate loads such as sand, soil, gravel and screenings.

The independent truckers say these vehicles are operating under the go-ahead of Transport Minister, Premier Ewart Brown.

Government confirmed earlier this year that the Act had not been amended, and a spokesman said: "The relaxation of the legislation is at the discretion of the Minister of Transport."

Richard Foggo, President of the Bermuda General Truckers Association, said yesterday: "This is a matter of public knowledge — if permits have been issued, then we want to see them to verify their legality. We want to know who has been given permission and what that permission entails.

"Let's have Dr. Brown come out and establish his position."

The truckers have accused Government of "cronyism" in the granting of permits. Members of the Truckers Association claim those in receipt include Correia Construction (owner Dennis Correia is the husband of former PLP candidate Jane Correia), Island Construction Services (President and CEO Zane DeSilva is the Government MP for Southampton East Central), BCS (Bermuda Construction Services), Dynamic Excavating and Landscaping, and M & M Construction.

The tractor trailer dumpsters can take up to five times the load of the smaller HCH-class hire trucks, undercutting them in both time and costs. This is resulting in up to $50,000 a day in lost business — approximately $500 each, according to independent truckers.

Last Wednesday, more than 22 truckers took part in a demonstration convoy through Hamilton against the dumpsters being allowed to carry aggregate "illegally".

As a result, it is understood Works and Engineering Minister Derrick Burgess and Health Minister Nelson Bascome are to meet with the operators this week — in a bid to resolve the issue.

Richard Foggo, President of the Bermuda General Truckers Association, said yesterday that members had refused to meet with the larger excavation and construction companies.

And he called on Premier Dr. Brown to meet with the independent truckers himself, in his role as Transport Minister.

"Minister Burgess and Minister Bascome are the two negotiators Dr. Brown has chosen.

"They are in talks with the contractors with a view to getting the situation resolved, but we would like Dr. Brown to come forward himself, to see what he has granted permission for," said Mr. Foggo.

"We are not going to meet with the contractors to discuss our work, because the Minister (Dr. Brown) has created this situation and we need the Minister to come forward and say whether or not he has granted permission for them to move sand, stone and screenings on the roads of Bermuda.

"The law states they should not be doing that."

It has also emerged that Mr. Foggo was one of two truckers issued with tickets for traffic offences during last Wednesday's demonstration.

The fines were issued for 'unlawful sounding of the horn', but Mr. Foggo was also reprimanded for flashing his hazard lights.

The other trucker, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "We all think it's ridiculous because you have people blowing their horns at football games and parties.

"The truckers didn't break any laws (last Wednesday). We only went at 20 mph and stopped at all the red lights, but they are just finding something to give us a ticket for. They couldn't ticket us on anything else so they picked up on this."

The trucker claimed Mr. Foggo was willing to contest his ticket in court, but that he would pay his $50 fine.

"I feel the Commissioner of Police was wrong to charge us for something we weren't breaking the law on," he said. "What are they going to do at the next football game or wedding, after ticketing us?

"Every Bermudian toots at each other, so this has pissed me off.

"But I guess the Police officers were only doing their job."

When The Royal Gazette asked Mr. Foggo whether he will contest his ticket in court, he said: "It remains to be seen as to how that will be dealt with. The Police have a job to do and we are not disrespecting them, we are just standing up for our rights."

Asked whether the truckers would consider further protest action, Mr. Foggo said: "That is going to be the decision of the membership.

"If they choose to take action, action will be taken. We are hoping that does not have to be the case, but as you know, sometimes people are pushed."

The Royal Gazette has not yet received a response from Government on our requests for a list of which operators have been granted a permit for tractor trailer dumpsters to carry aggregate.