Belize’s New Bus Company Debuts, Not All Onboard
After months of build‑up, Belize’s transportation system hit a major turning point this weekend. The National Bus Company officially rolled out on Sunday, promising more reliable runs, new buses, and a modern ticketing system. But not everyone is on board. About fourteen operators from the Belize Bus Association have chosen to remain private, and today they met with the Ministry of Transportation to get clarity on what comes next. We caught up with Minister Louis Zabaneh after that meeting for an update.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transportation
“We agreed a few months back that we would meet with the BBA, that we would meet approximately every three months to keep each other informed. And so we thought that since we launched yesterday, March first, our national bus company that we would want to update them on where we are and how we are moving forward.”
Britney Gordon
“So at today’s meeting, are members of the association that did not opt to join the National Bus Company?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“Yes. All the other members as there are thirty-one inter-city operators, meaning between towns and cities. Of those fourteen who are not in the new national bus company remain members of the Belize Bus Association. So we are meeting with them right now.”
Reporter
“We have heard reports that there’s pressure on the remaining fourteen, which they say is actually like close to sixteen for them to join the NBC and saying if unu no join we’re going to bring down the pressure in terms of enforcement. Is that happening?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“No. We just discussed that point and we assure them that is not the case. What has been occurring for the past three months or so, is that we have been tightening enforcement overall. So things like having a spare tire or having a jack and the equipment to put on a tire or having a fire extinguisher. These are things that they should have on their buses. And we have been tightening up overall on that. So that continues to occur as we go forward and they know what the regulations are, they know what the conditions of their permits are.”
Passengers Late to Work Following Rollout of National Bus System
It’s only been a day and a half since the National Bus Company hit the road with promises of reliability and on‑time service, but this morning, things didn’t go quite as planned. Commuters in San Ignacio were left waiting at least twenty minutes past the usual pickup time for a bus that never showed. We asked Transportation Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh about the hiccup, and he says delays like this are part of the early growing pains as the new system settles in.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transportation
“ We’ve had a number, of as you call them, hiccups, that’s in some sense kind of natural, where you have operators who stepped out and were not there to ensure that their bosses had been on schedule, and so a couple that occurred. But I would say for ninety-five percent of all the runs. Went on time. And in that sense, overall it was a success.”
Reporter
“What occurred exactly?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“I believe that in San Ignacio there was a bus missing from a particular time this morning. And we had to scramble and get another bus in place in time so that the commuters waited about 20 minutes and then the bus came.”
James Bus Line Officially Joins National Bus Company
One of the country’s biggest and longest‑running operators, James Bus Line, has officially joined the National Bus Company, moving from a private enterprise into the government‑run system. For decades, James Bus dominated transportation in the south, but under the NBC umbrella, it’s stepping into a new role. We asked Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh what this move means for the industry and for commuters across the country. Here’s more.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transportation
“I want to give great recommendations to the Williams family for making this move. We say that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. And if we have James, the largest bus operator, we have Westline, the second largest operator, we have others that are significantly large on floral, et cetera, they are making that decision, that is really what proves whether or not this company has the potential to continue to grow because it’s their investment years and years of sacrifice. For example, in the case of James. And after they did significant analysis, they decided to be a part of this. So I think it is something for us to really celebrate that we have all these operators who have seen this opportunity and are coming together now because they realize that by doing this, they themselves will be better off, and especially our commuters and our country.”
BBA Seeks Clarity on Transport Board Seat as NBC Takes Off
Members of the Belize Bus Association sat down with the Ministry of Transportation this week to map out how they’ll operate now that the National Bus Company is officially rolling. Transportation Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh says he’s committed to keeping all operators in line with their permits, but the BBA says one major issue is still up in the air: who will represent them on the Belize Transport Board? With former BBA president Thomas Shaw now out of the association and fully on board with the new national bus company, the seat he once held is suddenly vacant. But current president Philip Jones says he hasn’t been invited to take that spot, and that raises serious concerns about transparency and whether critical information is reaching the operators who need it most.
Philip Jones
Philip Jones, President, Belize Bus Association
“We rely on the news heavily to know what’s going on and what’s taking place, because majority of this information we’re not privy to because one, we do not have no one sitting on the transport board, which I’m the president now, usually the president I would sit up there.”
Reporter
“Mr. Shaw was there before, right?
Philip Jones
“Mr. Shaw stepped down in 2025 in September, and I was elected as the new president. I had sent a letter to the media and to the minister and to the transport board requesting that the members had brought, and the executive had brought that they requested me to be a sitting member on the transport board so I can share the information with the Bus Association. But since then, I have not been privy or allowed. The minister has the purview to, or the privilege to assign members to the transport board. And I was told that he was satisfied with who he has sitting at the board at the time. And I’m not a sitting member on the transport board since September.”
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transportation
“Technically, that wouldn’t be accurate because remember now that the National Bus company is a bus operator now on its own rights, and Mr. Shaw is a shareholder of that company. So he’s a owner of the National Bus company. And so as such, he represents an operator and that’s what the legislation calls for with respect to the governance right of the sector.”
Reporter
“Do you consider though that what the changes, now the other members should be represented or get a seat?”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“No. We believe in representation, so that’s part of the discussion. We haven’t come to that point yet, but I’m sure we will discuss that with them.”
National Bus Company to Introduce Cashless Payment System
As the National Bus Company gets up and running, the government is already looking at its next big upgrade, going cashless. A nationwide digital payment system is in the works, similar to what commuters already use on the e‑buses in Belize City. The new fleet isn’t here yet, but officials say the move toward tap‑and‑ride technology is coming in the months ahead. Transportation Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh explains that the change won’t happen overnight, but the plan is well underway.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transportation
“It would’ve been nice if we had everything in place and on day one, we have a hundred brand new buses to start across the country. It doesn’t work like that. So we’re using a transitional period approach from March first to the end of August. During that time, we have training. For drivers, for conductors, we gradually shift. They have uniforms. We improve the ticketing system. Then we go to the cashless system and the new buses start to arrive. For a change of this magnitude, it will require time. So we are putting ourselves to the end of next year. By that time, we will be able to see. As a very big transformation in the sector.”
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.
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