(NVB) in the garage as of Monday. Union Chairman Conthino Finisie explained that the bus and boat owners still have not received the regular payment for August and that they also have not received any fuel compensation since March. He made it clear that the union members are fed up with the way things are going. “They are playing a cat-and-mouse game with us”, said the union chairman who added that the union members are not given clear answers when they want to know when they will receive payment. The fuel compensation issue was discussed at a meeting that was held at the Office of the President. Both parties agreed that a committee would find out how the price of SRD 25 per kilometer was calculated. Finisie explained that the NVB is sticking to a calculation based on fuel expenses of SRD 50 per kilometer. The Ministry of Transportation, Communications and Tourism (TCT) made it clear that if that calculation was correct, the bus and boat owners are not entitled to fuel compensation. In order to get to the bottom of things, the committee was established. The union was recently told that the committee could reach a decision and that the union would have to negotiate a new calculation model with the NVB. “We deem that unacceptable. The committee was established to clear things up. Now we are once again being sent to the NVB”, said Finisie. The union sent another letter to the Office of the President and the TCT Ministry last Wednesday. Finisie explained that the union members have run out of patience. “The members are no longer willing to wait. If we do not get a response regarding the payments, the members will determine the next step”, said Finisie.