For thousands of Belizeans, the intercity bus is not simply a way to get from one town to another. It is how they get to work, school, medical appointments and home.
Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh says between 8,000 and 12,000 Belizeans travel by intercity bus every day, with that figure climbing to as many as 15,000 or 16,000 during peak periods.
Introducing the Public Transportation Investment Bill 2026, in today’s Special Sitting of the House of Representatives, Zabaneh argued that the scale of that dependence makes public transportation a national issue and described it as the “backbone of the economy.”
With that in mind, though, how badly has the system been failing the thousands of commuters?
Zabaneh recognised the deterioration of the sector over the past 25 years. However, he maintains that a restructure of the sector through the National Bus Company could provide great benefits.
“We will have more ability to be mobile, to be able to take care of our daily affairs with a more reliable, more efficient bus system that serves our people geographically, equitably across the country,” Zabaneh said. “And, if you look from an environmental point of view, we’ve also had a system that is reliant on diesel fuel, fossil fuels that put a tax on our imports… our people deserve better.”
The National Bus Company has already invested in eight newer buses, with resources available to purchase up to 15. The government has also invested $2.5 million in upgrades to the Belmopan and Belize City terminals.
Zabaneh said the longer-term plan is to transition the National Bus Company’s fleet to electric buses by the end of 2027.
“The focus now is on the actual commuters, where the focus should have been in the first place,” Zabaneh added.
