After a week of rising tension, and the very real threat of a bus strike, Cabinet has stepped in to keep Belizeans moving. Following urgent requests from the Belize Bus Association, the government has approved a new bus fare structure aimed at easing pressure on operators while protecting commuters from sudden spikes. Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh says the decision followed detailed discussions, with Cabinet weighing the cost of operating buses against the impact higher fares would have on the travelling public. Rather than a flat increase, the new system introduces tiered fares, a move the minister says is designed to be fairer and more predictable for both drivers and passengers. With bus operators backing away from strike action, attention now turns to how the new fares will work on the ground. Here’s Minister of Transport Dr. Louis Zabaneh explaining why Cabinet signed off on the change and what commuters can expect next.
On the Phone: Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“Their main area of interest for the BBA was the adjustment of fares. Our ministry presented options for the cabinet to consider, and these were ultimately determined that the rates would be in a tiered format. So, for regular bus service, the rate would be $0.18 per mile. For express bus service, it would be $0.20 per mile, and we would be creating a new premium service that would be $0.22 per mile. That premium service would require high-quality buses no older than seven years with spacious bucket seats and Wi-Fi that would be nonstop between municipalities and designated high-density areas. So, we have now shared verbally by phone with the president of the BBA what I just shared with you.”
Transport Minister Says New Bus Fares are Still Being Calculated
If you’re wondering when those new bus fares will actually kick in, the answer is, not just yet. The Minister of Transport says officials still need a few more days to fine tune the numbers, round fares to the nearest twenty five cents, and make sure every stop along the highways is properly included. So, when can commuters expect the changes, and which routes will be affected? Minister Louis Zabaneh breaks down the timeline and what riders should watch for next.
On the Phone: Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“We will need a couple of days to fine-tune because we will be rounding some of these fares to the nearest $0.25, and we will need to make sure we include all the various stops that our buses currently make. We have agreed with the president of the BBA that we will make sure we work closely with them and with the NBC to ensure that all those stops are incorporated properly.”
Paul Lopez
“So, this will take effect for NBC, BBA, and municipal runs as well?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“This would be for intercity runs that are on the highway that are served by intercity operators. As we know, there will be some large communities along the way that are also served, so those will be considered as well.”
BBA President Philip Jones says the association has spent nearly twenty years pressing the government to create a level playing field for bus operators.
Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.
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