A tour bus was stoned with Dawn Princess passengers inside. The incident happened yesterday, in Vila, Vanuatu, Pacific island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. Rocks were thrown by the local bus drivers as the tour bus exited the wharf.
Tensions between tour operators and bus and taxi drivers have been rising recently to a boiling point as Vanuatu's economy suffers in recent years. Numerous tour companies compete for a limited number of passengers arriving on cruise ships.
Eye witnesses say that the bus drivers started banging on the back of the tour bus, yelling and then started to stone the vehicle. The Dawn Princess passengers inside the bus were scared and extremely upset.
On February 20, Dawn Princess security officer send an email to Vanuatu Ports & harbour authorities, reporting a lack of security in the port by local officials as "a 'wall' of aggressive men was formed in the port, shouting at Dawn Princess passengers.
Dawn Princess officers reported the incident to Princess Cruises corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, and infroming the Port Vila Authorities that they hope that the incident would not be repeated when the ship returns to Vanuatu.
Vanuatu Deputy Prime Minister, said that he will guarantee public safety of all cruise ship passengers, and instructed Municipal and National Police to enforce the security in the wharf.