The wheels are turning on a bold new vision for Belize’s public transportation system, but not everyone’s on board. The Ministry of Transport is pushing ahead with plans to create a single national bus company, a move that Minister Louis Zabaneh says would streamline services much like utility companies do. But while the government sees efficiency, bus operators are seeing red flags. Since the idea was first floated in May, concerns have been mounting. Now, the Belize Bus Owners Association is demanding transparency, specifically, they want to see the financial blueprint behind this proposed monopoly. And with growing unrest among trade unions, skepticism is only gaining speed. Tonight, we hear from Association President Thomas Shaw, who’s calling for answers.
Thomas Shaw
Thomas Shaw, President, BBOA
“When Rodwell left he was talking about a tier system. He had promised operators a five to ten year permit. What operators are looking at is that they went through this process just to find out now that you want to form a national company of which operators in our meeting, they are saying you are looking at a brand, their livelihood, what they fought for all their lives. It is the only business or industry left that is owned and operated by Belizeans. We look at the sugar industry, we look at the citrus, everything is failing right now, and the crisis with teachers, KHMH, stevedores and it goes on and on. Operators are a bit hesitant with taking heed to this concept. Whenever we are taking about a concept operators want to see something tangible where it is going to benefit commuters, country, themselves and the government on a whole.”
As the government drives forward with plans for a single national bus company, bus operators are hitting the brakes, demanding answers to some tough questions. Chief among them: what’s the backup plan if this grand vision fails? Association President Thomas Shaw says the numbers just don’t add up. Operators currently charge commuters sixteen cents per mile, but he argues the government would need to double that rate to keep a nationalized system running. And now, the association is calling for more than just dialogue, they want the investors behind this plan to come to the table and face the people who know the roads best.
Thomas Shaw, President, BBOA
“We are only hearing about the buying out and who will pay who, but the investors and lending institution, none of them have presented themselves to these consultations and if social security will be a main factor playing a main role in this, because what the operators are saying they listened to the budget and there is nothing put aside for the bus industry. So if there es nothing put aside, operators want to know where the funds will come from and who will in case this thing and at the end of the day they are afraid that this thing does not work and if it falls through what will happen to their investment that they have worked for all these years. One of their concern was that they are finding these firms that will do the appraisals, value these buses, and let us say that an operator has only one bus and they value his bus at thirty-thousand he puts that back into shares, he wants to know how will I survive because operators collect on a daily basis to feed their families pay their light water. At the lowest point you are looking at, some companies you are looking at a million dollars, or over a million dollars if you are talking about James or Westline. They are in a better position because they will have better dividends. Som of them have thirty runs. But we are not only catering to the big operators, there is the small operators as well.”
Here’s a quick update that’s sure to bring relief to drivers across the country. After a brief disruption that affected the printing of driver’s licenses nationwide, the Department of Transport has announced that the Belize Motor Vehicle Registration and Licensing System is back online and fully operational. Thanks to quick action from Minister Louis Zabaneh and C.E.O. Chester Williams, help was called in right away. They immediately engaged the Embassy of Taiwan and the Central Information Technology Office. A technical meeting held earlier today led to CITO’s in-house experts stepping in to troubleshoot and resolve the connectivity issues. The Department is taking proactive steps to strengthen the reliability and security of all transport-related digital systems moving forward. So, if you’ve been waiting for your license, there’s good news. Services are back up and running.
Is history repeating itself in Belize’s public transportation sector? Minister of Transport, Doctor Louis Zabaneh, says he’s on a mission to modernize the industry, but not everyone’s on board. Queen Square Area Representative Godwin Haylock is raising red flags, comparing the proposal to the failed Novelo’s Bus monopoly of the past. Haylock argues that the last time a government promised a streamlined, monopolized system, it collapsed in short order. So, is this a bold new vision or déjà vu on wheels?
Godwin Haylock, Area Representative, Queen Square
“But all the fairytale dreams and benefits of a better transportation industry under a monopoly went down the drain in less than three years. By 2006 it was over. And just like humpty dumpty had a great fall, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put the bus industry back together again. Now the ministry of transport is back to the fairytale solution again. They want to monopolize the public bus routes, this time through private public partnership. But the bus operators I talk to out there, you know what they are feeling, they have this gut feeling that this proposal is like Novelos 2.0. only this time the government wants to be the partner in control of the monopoly. I will repeat, everyone remembers that the PUP government were the facilitators of the worst buy out and the worst bus monopoly in Belize’s history. Today it feels like dejavu, a feeling like we have all experience this bus monopoly before. This time around instead of DFC lending, it could be our social security taking on this huge risk.”
The Department of Transport is stepping up its game when it comes to motorcycle safety. In a new push to clean up the roads, the department has relaunched a nationwide enforcement campaign targeting some of the most common and dangerous violations. So, what’s on their radar? Think loud bikes disturbing quiet neighborhoods, riders ditching their helmets, and people squeezing more passengers onto a motorcycle than the law allows. Officials say these aren’t just annoyances, they’re serious safety risks. As part of the campaign, you can expect surprise spot checks, with help from the Police Department and Municipal Traffic Authorities. And if you’re caught breaking the rules? Your bike could be impounded, and you could face penalties. Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh also weighed in during today’s budget debate, noting that his ministry’s budget just got a twenty-five percent boost, fueling efforts like this one to make Belize’s roads safer for everyone.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“To properly move forward with improved enforcement of traffic laws and regulations to meet international standards, to restructure and strengthen the National Transport Monitoring and Reevaluation Systems, to increase public awareness of transport policies, laws and safety messages and to generally pursue a transportation system we can be proud of, this budget has increased the allocation from last year eight million three hundred and ninety-four thousand five hundred and ten dollars, to ten million, five hundred and thirty six thousand, one hundred and twenty one dollars, a twenty-five percent increase. We will work diligently with what we have and be innovative in creating practical solutions with the aim always to improve safety on our highways and increase the reliability and service of our bus transport sector.”
As calls grow louder for better public transportation across Belize, the Ministry of Transport is offering a bold new vision for the future of commuting. Earlier this week, we spoke with Transport Minister Doctor Louis Zabaneh, who shared an alternate perspective on how the ministry plans to meet the rising demands of commuters. According to Doctor Zabaneh, meaningful upgrades, like improved bus terminals and better buses, can only happen if bus operators unite under a single national bus company. He explained that while commuters deserve better services, achieving those improvements is nearly impossible with thirty-one separate operators running across the country.
Louis Zabaneh
Doctor Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“Many of the larger countries, our neighbors have much fewer bus lines that are able to achieve the economies of scale. That is critical to the formula for us to attain sustainability and be able to achieve those types of services we want in 2025, quality terminals, buses, a schedule that works for the people according to the demand we have. Those things will not be resolved if we continue to have numerous bus lines on the road. And, giving them subsidies is no guarantee that they are going to be improving the quality of service that people deserve.”
There’s more change on the horizon for Belize’s public transport system—this time, it’s the infrastructure getting a closer look. On Wednesday, Transport C.E.O. Chester Williams and a team of officials toured the Belize City bus terminal, identifying key areas in need of renovation. Top of the list? The bathroom facilities and the drainage system on the compound. But the upgrades won’t stop there. Williams says the Ministry of Transport is committed to improving all transport department facilities across the country, ensuring safe, clean, and functional spaces for both commuters and employees.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport
“Basically we’re going around myself and the management team at the ministry to look at the different infrastructure that the ministry has across the country. We have been to the southern part of the country and the western part of the country, and still nowhere in the eastern part. Belize district in particular, looking at the terminal infrastructure to see what is there to be done, to uplift the terminal. The terminals are places where our commuters travels through every day as they commute to and from work. And so we need to make sure that this is a state of good repairs. So that when our commuters do use the facility, they are comfortable using it. Again, we are also looking at the traffic department to see what, if anything can be done to upgrade the working environment of the traffic officers. Again, if we want people to be able to perform at optimal level, we have to ensure that we provide necessary resources for them to be able to do and so the main objective of our tour is twofold, looking at the terminals infrastructure and looking at the traffic department infrastructure.”
From crumbling infrastructure to unsanitary conditions, bus terminals nationwide have long needed serious attention. Now, the Ministry says change is on the way. Plans are in motion to renovate these aging facilities, with improvements promised to the bathrooms, seating arrangements, and even drainage systems on the compounds. But as with any major facelift, the question is: at what cost? Today, we spoke with Transport C.E.O. Chester Williams to find out whether the ministry’s current budget can support such an ambitious overhaul. Here’s what he had to say.
Chester Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Transport
“The money in the budget certainly can help us to a certain extent. Yes, it is not all we wanted. But that can be complimented by what the FinTech have not agreed that we’ll be getting back. I must say that separate and apart from the monies collected from the bathroom, we also receive on a monthly basis almost fifty thousand rental fees. People who are renting boots or stalls at the bus terminals. These money also go into general revenue. So we have the rental fees and we have the bathroom fees adding two of them together over a hundred thousand a month that we are collecting from these terminals. So I don’t see no reason why we should not be able to. Tap into that to make sure that we maintain the integrity of the infrastructure.”
Tensions are rising in the transport sector as the Belize Bus Owners Association (BBOA) pushes back against a government proposal to create a single national bus company. In a recent release, the association accused the Ministry of Transport of trying to replace long-standing, Belizean-owned operators with a government-run model. At the heart of the issue is a power struggle over who will control the future of public transportation. The BBOA sees the plan as a threat to their survival. But Transport Minister Doctor Louis Zabaneh says the focus must remain on what commuters want — better, more reliable service. He insists that current bus operators won’t be pushed out. In fact, he says they’ll have the opportunity to become shareholders in the new national company if they choose to be part of the transformation.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“The public is demanding that we improve the quality of service. From the very first meeting in this proposal the atmosphere we have been encouraging is one of partnership. Improving the industry will require that the bus operators and the government realize that we are not what matters most in the industry. What matters most are the commuters, their welfare, they are the ones paying. The difference between what we are proposing now and what happened with Novelo is that all operators continue to be owners. In this case they would be owners by way of being shareholders in this public private partnership. In the case of Novelo there was only one owner. It cannot be said they are being kicked out of the industry. They have the opportunity to remain as shareholders. The second factor is this new public private partnership which will be no different than a B.E.L. a B.T.L. or a B.W.S.L., meaning a public utility which transportation will fall under as a natural monopoly to serve people who need the service across the country. In that setting we ensure that the owners will hire a board of directors, new management, we have structures in place, and we put the necessary legislation in place to protect so that there is no erosion.”
Minister of Transport, Doctor Louis Zabaneh has scheduled a follow up meeting with bus operators for next week Friday. We will continue to follow.
E-taxis have officially hit the streets of Belize City, but not everyone is celebrating. Local cab drivers are voicing strong concerns, worried that this new, eco-friendly service could drive them out of business. If this sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen it before; just last year, the launch of e-buses sparked similar backlash from traditional bus operators. Now, with only a handful of e-taxis in operation, tensions are already rising. So how are cab drivers coping with the change? News Five’s Britney Gordon hit the streets to find out. Here’s her report.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
It’s been one week since Belize City rolled out its new e-Ride service, marking another step forward in clean, modern transportation. After the debut of e-buses in 2024, many Belizeans were eager to see what would come next—and now, electric taxis are here. But just like the e-buses, the new e-taxis are stirring up controversy. Local cab drivers say the service threatens their livelihoods, fearing that the sleek, eco-friendly rides could soon replace traditional taxis.
Albert Robinson
Albert Robinson, Belize City Taxi Driver
“Any plus affects the business any plus when it comes to being in business. Anything that comes. Competition is good, but to a certain extent, you have to be careful as to how much you overflow or you flood the situation, right? Because it creates a problem sometimes it even get personal with people. It become violent. I have seen hotel since I started to operate, that people have gone to the extreme of fighting over client and wounding one another.”
Albert Robinson, a local taxi driver, told us that a ride in a regular cab costs around ten dollars, though the price can vary depending on how far you’re going. To compare, we tried booking an e-taxi through the MiDriva app—but it was down. So instead, we called e-taxi driver Abigail Westby directly. She’s currently offering a promotional rate, and our ride came to just eight dollars. Westby shared that business started off slowly, but things have picked up so much that she’s now turning down ride requests. It’s a sign that e-taxis may be gaining traction, even as traditional drivers worry about the competition.
Abigail Westby
Abigail Westby, E-Ride Taxi Driver
“ They love it. They love it. I’ve been getting a lot of tens out of tens. People are sharing and posting their thoughts and I’ve seen it on my WhatsApp, so it’s been good. “
The Belize City Council rolled out four electric taxis as part of its push for greener transportation—but right now, only two drivers are on the road. One of them, Abigail Westby, says demand is growing fast. When she’s fully booked, she sometimes refers customers to her mother, who drives a traditional taxi. It’s a unique family dynamic in a time of change. We asked Westby whether she thinks the e-taxi service poses a threat to drivers like her mother. Her response reflects the tension many in the industry are feeling as the city shifts toward cleaner, tech-driven transport.
Abigail Westby
“It will be balanced because it is still going to price within the range. I believe that people are mis misunderstanding the promotion that I am doing this week. This week alone. The price, they’re saying that we’re charging eight for the runs, but it’s. It’s actually a promotion. It’s not going to be the set cost. It will start at a base price of as low as seven dollars. But as time goes and as your distance change, the prices will change in the app.”
E-taxis may be the future of transportation in Belize City, but for many local drivers, owning one remains out of reach. Right now, e-taxi drivers pay a daily fee of sixty-five dollars to use electric vehicles. If they meet that fee, they can stay on the road. But the veteran cab driver says the original pitch to local drivers was very different. He recalls being told they could buy an e-taxi for between sixty and seventy thousand dollars, a price he says is simply unaffordable for the average taxi operator.
Albert Robinson
“ We were taken into a meeting at the city hall where we were introduced and these taxes were mentioned to us. We were given preference and if we wanted to drive one of these taxi to own, but when they gave us the price of one of those vehicles, we told them at all age, especially me right now, I am seventy-six years old. No shame in my game because I’m gift, I’m still operating. I still take care of myself as much as I could, but it’s the only way out. People like us at certain age are not employable. They don’t employ us. Right, because of our age. So we find our own industry and we try to make a living the best way we could.”
Voice of: Belize City Taxi Driver
For many taxi drivers in Belize City, making ends meet is becoming harder by the day. Between the rising cost of fuel, constant vehicle maintenance, taxes, and other fees, several drivers say they’re barely scraping by. One frustrated taxi-man didn’t hold back, saying the government should focus on developing new industries instead of crowding already saturated ones like the taxi sector. With competition growing and expenses piling up, many drivers feel they’re being left behind in the push for progress.
Voice of: Belize City Taxi Driver
“ The government di take away job from the local people and then the e-taxi business di benefit the government and not the people. You need to look fi jobs to create for your people and do not take away job from them. The same thing with the e-buses because then the target, the whole taxi and bus system. And another five years from now, Belizeans a see the effect of it.”
While only a few electric taxis are currently operating in Belize City, traditional cab drivers are already worried about what the future holds. Could their way of life be on the road to extinction? Not so fast, says e-taxi driver Abigail Westby. She believes there will always be a place for cab drivers in the city’s transportation landscape.
Abigail Westby
“Not in the near future. Things take time to adjust and upgrade. If they want to upgrade the country or the city with electric vehicles, it won’t change right away. So it will have some time, If it’s the plan that. We want to be, become a fully electric vehicle, country or as city, then it won’t happen right away.”
Veteran cab driver Mr. Robinson says he’s not against progress—but he believes development shouldn’t come at the cost of people’s livelihoods. With e-taxis entering the scene, he’s urging the government to find a way forward that supports innovation without sidelining those who depend on traditional jobs to survive. Britney Gordon for News Five.
