Year: 2025

There’s a bit of a shake-up happening in Belize’s public transportation sector. Today, Doctor Louis Zabaneh took to the podium at the Biltmore, hoping to clear the air, and maybe calm a few engines, over his ministry’s bold plan to launch a national bus company. While the Belize Bus Owners Association is pumping the brakes, raising concerns and resistance, Minister Zabaneh says not so fast, claiming many operators, especially in the south and west, are already on board. With a January 2026 launch date in sight, the ministry is already crunching numbers and valuing assets, but there’s one big piece of the puzzle still missing: the money. Financial talks are set for later this week, and in the meantime, bus owners want to see the receipts, specifically, a breakdown of what’s in it for them. So, we asked the Minister: will they share those details?

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“Well absolutely and then again this is what, when I spoke to Mr. Shaw I said we discussed these two or three times already, we cannot give them that information until we do the evaluation. We need the data, the information, otherwise it would be guestimates. When it is off they will see , oh you see you are giving us wrong information and trick us. We have to do this thing the right way. Give us the time that is necessary for the auditors to do their work and then present us with the data and we can take that data and provide proper information. We have information on the cost structure, on how a small operator compares to a large operator and what would likely be the cost structure for the consolidated company. When you have that you can give them a comparison. You can say this is what you are doing right now. This is what the national company is doing and based on your shares see what your income will look like and you can give them that info. But, it needs a few more months of information coming in that you can rely on.”

While bus operators are calling for a breakdown of profits and dividends tied to the proposed national bus company, everyday commuters are calling for something much simpler, better service. From overcrowded buses to reckless driving, passengers say the current system is long overdue for a tune-up. One of the biggest complaints? Buses racing each other on the highway. Well, today we got the chance to ask a bus operator directly: why does this keep happening? Joel Armstrong, owner of Armstrong Bus Line, had just wrapped up a meeting with Minister Zabaneh when he stuck around to answer our questions. Here’s what he had to say.

Joel Armstrong, Bus Operator

“One of the biggest problem we encounter is too much permits. I have a four thirty run in the morning, just before the election. They gave a run, four thirty in the morning from Orange Walk, then they give a man front of me, four twenty and I am suppose to move four thirty. So the man drive out of terminal and wait and so when I come out four thirty he go in front of me. So what am I suppose to do, wait for him or pass him? So the problem is scheduling.  Just like when you go out there even the village bus the race. I don’t know why they are racing, but they are racing. My road service says I am suppose to leave Pallotti at five twenty. When I reach about fifteen pass, the next bus is suppose to leave when I reach, but because he has two three bus he stay right there and wait. And he would say, my bus can run faster than your one. So the small man will never try to race, because if you race you run the risk of breaking a machine and not everybody like speed. Then there is that part from the commuters, bueno, bonito and rapidity. It means, cheap, fast and quick. We have all sort of commuters they watch your bus and say that is turtle on the road. They are not looking for safety.”

The debate over Belize’s proposed national bus company is picking up steam, and this time, it’s all about the bottom line. The Belize Bus Owners Association is sounding the alarm, claiming that without a fare hike, the new company won’t turn a profit. But Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh isn’t buying it. He says the goal isn’t just profit, it’s better service at a better price. And according to him, the real reason some operators aren’t seeing the returns they expect? Well, that’s a whole other story.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“From our perspective, what the national company will be able to do, because it will have a wider spread between revenue and cost and when I say revenue go up I don’t mean price go up. What I mean is that the money that should be for the company is coming into the company bank account. What is happening right now is that a lot of people, especially conductors and drivers, are stealing the money. Let us be plain. That means your revenue could have been up here. So now you will get more of your money. It does not mean prices will go up. It just means what is due to the owners of these buses is coming to them. But,. Because your cost go down and you have a bigger margin there is less pressure to increase prices. If you are doing this for public purpose then what do you want, give them the best service for a lower cost. So, this is the only way we can ensure in the longer run that we don’t have pressures to increase prices, which I think the press release, we have discussed this two or three times, ignored from the discussions we have had before.”