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Truckers back leader on illegal use of dumpsters

Truckers last night rallied around Bermuda General Truckers Association president Richard Foggo in his campaign against illegal use of dumpsters.Mr Foggo is planning court action to shut down companies which break the law by using dumpsters to carry items which should be transported in smaller trucks. Truckers say this is depriving them of a livelihood and accuse Premier Paula Cox and Transport Minister Terry Lister of doing nothing to alleviate their concerns.Mr Foggo has a Magistrates’ Court trial of his own in October, charged with threatening words and behaviour towards Health Minister Zane DeSilva, the boss of Island Construction; he also claims he was wrongfully arrested for telling Ms Cox to resign during her leadership campaign last year. At a meeting last night, truckers vowed to support Mr Foggo in his October court battle, as well as taking legal advice on the illegal dumpster issue. Mr Foggo says he understands that by law companies can be shut down for illegal use of dumpsters.He claims to have presented photographic evidence of dumpsters carrying materials to Mr Lister, who told him he has passed the matter to Ms Cox. In July, the Trucks Advisory Committee wrote to Mr Lister recommending immediate cancellation of all trailer dumpster licences. Mr Lister wrote to Mr Foggo on August 17 telling him he had been removed from the Trucks Advisory Committee.Mr Foggo told seven truckers who gathered at Bailey’s Bay Cricket Club: “There’s been a continuance of this operation by a few companies. Lister has not done anything at this point from what I have seen. Terry Lister said he has spoken to Paula Cox, yet today nobody has still heard anything. It’s time for the Ministry to speak on this.“This is affecting not only us but this is affecting the whole economy of the Island. Any money we make goes back into the economy. This money has never come to us; that work has never come to us. This is sad. We the truckers have been suffering from this for a long time to the point where we are not accepting it. We don’t have to accept it any more.”One man called out: “Man, you need more support. I’m here to support the cause, but you get locked up.”Mr Foggo replied: “I’m not getting locked up no longer. They have locked me up twice and come with handcuffs again. That’s finished because I come respectfully and I have brought evidence and proof and truth. I said, let the truth speak for itself. We will bring this matter to justice, I can assure you that. We are going to have to unite, bring the rest of the truckers. Tell them what’s taking place here, because this is a very serious thing. “I have been arrested by the police. I have no problem with the police. It’s not the police where the problem is here.“In the next couple of weeks, we will get another meeting and get more members here. I’m getting legal advice and I will be getting help.”The member said: “We are going to fight for you man.”