PARAMARIBO – The Ministry of Finance and Planning has recently taken significant steps to clear payment arrears to the Private Scheduled Bus Owners Organization (PLO) and the National Transport Company (NVB). The ministry reports this in a press release. According to Finance Director Vincent Fernandes, payments to the private sector have now been almost completely updated.
For the PLO bus holders, the fare compensation for the period from October 2025 to February 2026 was processed quickly. The most recent payment for the month of February was made on April 10. The backlog has also been drastically reduced at the NVB. After processing the subsidies for the third and fourth quarters of 2025, the costs for January and February 2026 have now also been paid. It is expected that the compensation for the month of March will be transferred in mid-April.
On behalf of the government, the ministry expresses its appreciation for the patience of the transport sector. At the same time, the government emphasizes that bus owners who fall under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Tourism must continue to accurately account for their administration. Strict supervision of the accounting rules remains necessary to ensure transparent expenditure of government resources.
To make public transport more efficient and transparent in the future, the government is committed to far-reaching digitalization via the e-Government process. In collaboration with the NVB, buses are currently being equipped with GPS systems for better monitoring. Moreover, the intention is to introduce a digital payment card this year, which should herald a more modern way of paying in the transport sector.
