The fight over Belize’s bus industry is no longer just between operators and government. It is also dividing operators themselves. After the Senate approved the Public Transportation Investment Bill on Wednesday night, Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh dismissed the Belize Bus Association’s objections as a failed attempt to stop reform. He says the emergence of the United Bus Operators Association signals growing confidence in the National Bus Company and government’s transportation plans.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“ Yes, I saw it, and it was sent. I believe it was a last-ditch strategy that they concocted to try to block the bill in the Senate that as was passed nine to four. We got the support, and I’m grateful for that from the business, the church, and the NGO senators, along with our six government senators. I want to thank them very much for taking a very objective analysis of the BCN and government’s policy with public bus transportation and supporting the bill. That press release from the BBA had a lot of recommendations that the term in the UK Parliament is called wrecking amendments that diametrically opposes the objective of the actual bill. And that’s in that has summarized, in a sense, the thinking of some of the people in the BBA. There was one social partner who sided with the opposition. Unfortunately, I believe they’re, they sided they’re on the wrong side of history right now, and we must move forward. Our Belizean people deserve a modern safe, reliable bus system. We’ve been, for the last twenty-five years, suffering from a very poor quality system. This plan that we have, this policy that we developed and the bill that was now– has now been passed with some minor amendments is the way forward to ensure that in the future our people will get a high-quality bus service that they deserve.”
Zabaneh cautioned that a full assessment of the initiative’s success will not be possible until the end of 2027, when the planned fleet of electric buses is expected to be fully rolled out.
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