New Bus Rates Hit Belizeans Today

As of today, getting around Belize just got more expensive. New bus fares rolled out nationwide, following last week’s dramatic bus blockade that brought traffic and travel to a standstill at the Tower Hill Bridge in Orange Walk. After emergency talks between independent bus operators, the Belize Bus Association, the Ministry of Transport, and the Office of the Prime Minister, a deal was reached and commuters are now paying the price. Short routes are up by as much as fifty cents, longer rides by up to a dollar. Today, we took to the streets to hear directly from Belizeans about how the higher fares are hitting their wallets.

 

Tyrone Budd, Commuter

” I travel from Sand Hill to Belize on a daily basis. Last week it was $3, and now today it was $4. It will be $40 per week, cause it will be 5 days at $8 each.”

 

Reporter

“And will that affect how you spend your money now?”

 

Tyrone Budd

“Well it will be very tight for me because really I was already hand to mouth already, but we can’t run from it, we have to deal with it. Because if I don’t catch the bus, I won’t reach to work.”

 

Reporter

“How much you paid for bus this morning?”

 

Voice of: Commuter

$16

 

Reporter

“And how much last week?”

 

Voice of: Commuter

“$12”

 

Reporter

“Can you comment on that?”

 

Voice of: Commuter

“Well what I am aware of, it should have been a dollar increase, but that’s more than a dollar if they are charging 16.”

 

Lyonell Palacio, Commuter

“Last week the fare for the bus was at $6.

 

Reporter

“How much did you pay this morning?”

 

Lyonell Palacio

“Well this morning I got an express bus and that was $8.”

 

Reporter

“How will that affect your expenses going forward?”

 

Lyonell Palacio

“Well we do get a small stipend, it doesn’t do anything when it comes to transport, but it will affect in a way how I look at my budgeting. And you have to consider if its worth it travelling versus what you’re making. For a smaller person, I think it will affect them greatly because sometimes they don’t make that much and a dollar more or two dollars more a day, is really heavy on them. For me I could kinda manage. It is still not one of the best thing for me either.”

 

And while the new rates may look small on paper, for commuters who ride every day, those extra cents are adding up fast.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: