By The Star Staff
Metropolitan Bus Authority (AMA by its initials in Spanish) President Karen Correa said Monday that collective transportation will be paralyzed for two days due to the discovery of water in the tanks that supply diesel fuel for the buses.
“We, as a preventive measure and also on the recommendation of the experts, cannot take the buses out until the buses are inspected and there is not the slightest risk that the bus tanks are contaminated,” Correa said.
The official did not rule out possible sabotage after the discovery of diapers inside the tanks.
“I have to tell you that that is why the CIC [Criminal Investigation Corps] is investigating,” she added.
AMA United Workers (TUAMA) President Ángel Escribano denounced over the weekend the suspension of AMA service after agency employees indicated that of 64 buses, only six run on diesel.
Escribano blamed AMA Vice President of Operations Wilberto González Castro and Vice President of Purchasing Miguel Ramírez Ortiz for not making the appropriate requisitions and for the lack of service that has impacted thousands of passengers since Thursday.
“On Thursday the units could not be filled because they were out of diesel,” Escribano said. “Suppose there is no maintenance on the tanks. In that case, we cannot run it.”
The union leader added that although the drivers showed up to provide service, the buses were not in good condition, nor were supervisors present.
Escribano went on to say that the AMA has three diesel tanks and one gasoline tank that the agency must properly maintain. However, he said, the tanks accumulated moisture and sediment, causing excess water that could potentially harm the buses’ engines.
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