The driver whose accident led to all buses being taken off the roads on Tuesday has contacted The Royal Gazette to say: "It did happen."

Government had cast doubt over the incident, claiming it had not been reported to the Department of Public Transportation and therefore reports saying it happened were erroneous.

But the driver responded by telling this newspaper how he cracked his windscreen by hitting an overhanging tree, which seemed to appear from nowhere on Middle Road, near Belmont Hills, at 7.15 a.m.

He said the bus, which was heading towards town, was full of passengers at the time, but nobody got injured.

After a number of other alleged near misses, drivers downed tools and the bus service was suspended for the rest of the day.

Operators complained they were asked to work six hours earlier than previously agreed in the aftermath of Hurricane Igor.

"I came across this branch but I didn't see it, I just heard this loud bang," said the driver, who asked not to be named.

"Then I realised it had cracked the windscreen. The first thing I said was that they shouldn't have buses on the roads when they have got debris hanging over the streets. That's no good."

A Department of Public Transportation spokeswoman was quoted in Thursday's Royal Gazette as saying: "With reference to the news piece that references a windscreen cracked by an overhanging tree on Middle Road near Belmont, no such report was received by the Department of Public Transportation.

"Thus any indication by the media that there was a smashed window due to hitting an overhanging branch is erroneous."

Bus Operators and Allied Workers president Glenn Simmons reacted: "I am very furious and the operators are very disenchanted at the statement put out by the Government. That has to be retracted."

Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown, who described the drivers as "amazingly insensitive" and "very unBermudian" at the time of the industrial action, discussed the issue with Mr. Simmons directly at his Brown Bag Lunch on Thursday.

Dr. Brown conceded Government had erred by not allowing the union to carry out the roads assessment instead of Government officials — but he again criticised unions' tendency to take action.

"I believe in my heart of hearts that the Bermuda Industrial Union is too quick to disrupt service to the public when there's a difference of opinion," said the Premier.

"I say there's enough brainpower in the union and whoever the party is to talk before you take action.

"I understand leverage and that you can shut down the country, but you don't want to do that every month. I don't think you should disrupt public service because of a disagreement or someone disrespects you.

"We have got to hold the big bullet for the situations that demand it."

Progressive Labour Party backbencher Wayne Perinchief told this newspaper: "I think the bus drivers lost a lot of respect from the Bermudian public for not going the extra mile. It wasn't the time to be taking labour action.

"All the other divisions seem to negotiate now more: the hotels, docks, construction. There's a heck of a lot more compromise and negotiation going on.

"Downturn of labour is a last resort, not a first option."

It was reported yesterday that bus drivers received an apology from Jonelle Christopher, from the Department of Public Transportation.