San Pedro EMT Threatens to Take Traffic Council Committee To Court

Emergency Medical Technician Abner Bacab of the Island Emergency Services in San Pedro Town says he is being unfairly treated by the Ambergris Caye Traffic Council Committee. According to Bacab, the committee rejected his application to receive permits for two motorcycles, which he uses to provide medical care across the island. Bacab explained that his motorcycles are equipped with advanced first aid kits, consisting of items such as IVs, gauze, neck colours, splints, and bandages. Bacab maintains that by having these motorcycles in operation, medical professionals can arrive at the scene of medical emergencies faster and stabilize patients while the ambulance is on its way. He claims that he had already received authorization to use these motorcycles from the town’s mayor and was very surprised by the recent rejection of his application. Here’s how he explained it.

 

Abner Bacab, Emergency Medical Technician, IMS, San Pedro

“Last week, I went to the town council expecting that all my permits were already approved, and when I arrived there, they said they had been denied. So I was really surprised, I was really surprised of the outcome of their meeting and the board basically denying our permit when it’s just a much needed service in San Pedro which is going to uplift our community services and our services in for our tourism, our people that visit us. So there was no grounds in saying what was the reason for the denial rather than saying they don’t see the need for it, to me that was a really bad response on them on making that decision as denying our motorcycle permits. Bear in mind, I’ve been working my motorcycles for months in San Pedro under the authorization of the mayor. I know the mayor sits on the Ambergris Caye Traffic Council Committee, and so do many people that I know, so I don’t believe it is it was the right thing to do. Our company as an ambulance service as an emergency medical. Provider is actually challenging the Ambergris Caye Traffic Council Committee decision where we’re going to take them to court because it’s, it wasn’t the right thing to do. If we go to court, I can tell you, I’m really knowledgeable about all the laws about emergency medical service here in San Pedro. I’m an EMT, so I know what’s going on. What we need to get done to be able to save people’s lives. Now, I’ve told the Ambergris Caye Traffic Council Committee, I’ve been talking to the mayor, I’ve spoken to our area rep, Andre Perez, and they don’t seem to understand it. And I told them, I’ve went so far to let them know that if they go to court, they’re gonna lose, because they don’t have anybody in the Ambergris Caye Traffic Council Committee that knows anything about emergencies. It’s a losing case for you. I don’t have anything to lose. I’ve said it many times. I have so much to gain. I’ve tried to make communication with them to no prevail.”