Belém Cancels Monte Cristo Bus Company's Services Over Unpaid Wages

The Municipality of Belém has initiated the process to revoke the operating licenses and authorizations of the Monte Cristo bus company, which manages five public transport lines in the capital. This action follows repeated strikes by the company's drivers due to delayed salary and benefit payments. According to the Municipal Secretariat of Security, Public Order, and Mobility of Belém (Segbel), Monte Cristo will cease operations starting Monday, the 27th, while the administrative process is underway. Segbel cited a history of service issues, exacerbated by frequent operational disruptions, as the reason for the decision. The Director of Transport for Segbel, Isaías Ribeiro, confirmed that user complaints had been mounting and the company had failed to adequately serve the public. The administrative process is expected to conclude within 30 days. Segbel stated that the revocation follows years of administrative crises and recurrent strikes that have negatively impacted passengers and the company's employees. To ensure service continuity, three of Monte Cristo's five lines will be transferred to other companies starting Monday, the 27th. Viação Santa Rosa will take over the Pedreira-Lomas line, Transportadora Arsenal will manage Pedreira-Nazaré, and Nova Marambaia will operate CDP-Providência-Ver-o-Peso. The assignments for the Sacramenta-São Brás and Alcindo Cacela-José Malcher lines are still pending, with a decision expected by the end of next week. During this transition, Segbel has mandated an increase in fleet capacity for companies operating similar routes to mitigate passenger impact. Drivers had recently protested delays by blocking a section of Almirante Barroso Avenue and marching to Segbel's headquarters. Segbel has requested that the companies taking over Monte Cristo's lines prioritize hiring its former employees. Founded in 1969, Monte Cristo is a long-standing public transport operator in Belém.