$3 Diesel Subsidy to “Keep Buses on the Road” for Students Nationwide

School bus operators across Belize will receive a BZ$3.00-per-gallon diesel subsidy, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE). It is set to provide urgent relief as fuel costs strain transport for more than 14,000 students and teachers nationwide.

MOE said the measure is retroactive to April 13, 2026, and will support 278 school bus runs. “By easing fuel costs, this subsidy keeps buses on the road, students in school, and families confident in a reliable education system,” it said.

The initiative is expected to cost about BZ $233,755.55 over 11 weeks, funded through MOE’s recurrent budget. The subsidy is calculated on an average fuel rate of seven miles per gallon applied across all route distances.

New bus fares also came into effect today. The Ministry of Transport issued the official revised approved bus fares, representing the “maximum allowable rates” for stops across Belize. The new rates reflect the new adjustments of 50 cents for shorter stops and a maximum of BZ$1.00 for longer routes.

Both measures follow last Monday’s bus blockade, when bus operators shut down and blocked road access on the Tower Hill Bridge in Orange Walk. The blockade triggered emergency talks with Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh and the Office of the Prime Minister. The meeting concluded with both sides reaching an agreement. The president of the Belize Bus Association, Phillip Jones, said the increase was made “based on the best interest of the general public and daily commuters.”