Bus damaged by two males

Veteran businessman Ralph Bizzy Williams is outraged at the actions of vandals who targeted one of his prized investments twice in two weeks.

Security footage at a Lear’s St. Michael property captured two males stoning two electric vehicles, one of which is part of Government’s Transport Augmentation Programme (TAP).

Williams told Barbados TODAY that on the first occasion, the men broke the bus’ windshield as it was charging at the workshop. Police were informed but no charges had been laid against the culprits, who are believed to be from a nearby village.

To the amazement and frustration of the owners, the vandals struck again on Thursday mere days after the damage had been fully repaired.

“This time, they also vandalised our electric van. I don’t know what motivated them but it is not a nice thing to do,” said Williams, before pledging to work with police to bring the culprits to justice.

“Because the bus shield is mashed up, it is totally out of commission. So then you have look for a new windshield to put in there, and it ain’t as though they’re available at the corner shop,” added Mr. Williams.

The bus is officially owned by Endless Electric Limited, which invested $1.2 million on the venture. And, although it bears the logo of the state-owned Transport Board, its only affiliation is through the Ministry of Transport and Works’ public-private partnership to move citizens around the country.

It is on this basis that Williams is hoping the company will be permitted to set up an electric charging station at the Fairchild Street bus terminal, where the bus can be protected from criminal elements.

“Its not a government project, but we are now hoping to get permission to put a charger in the Fairchild Street Bus Terminal so we can charge the bus down there instead of having to drive it up to the workshop and leaving it exposed while it is charging for these vandals to mash it up again,” added the businessman. (kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb)