Commuters Cry Foul Over Unapproved Bus Fares

Bus fares in the north could be going up, or at least, that’s what some commuters are saying. Seven bus companies have reportedly proposed a fare hike, and passengers claim they’re already being charged the new prices. But hold on, Transport CEO Chester Williams says, not so fast. According to him, bus fares are regulated, and no company can just raise prices on their own. In fact, he calls it illegal. Williams is urging commuters not to pay more than what’s officially approved. If you’re being overcharged, speak up.

 

Chester Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Transport

 ”May I make it clear that the bus fares are regulated by law? There is an SI that clearly outlined, what are the fees that buses are to charge from one point to another. I think that SI came out in 2017 and in the SI it shows that bus fares from Belize City to Orange, for example should be, I think seven dollars. The express is eight dollars. They now propose to charge I think seven fifty, which is fifty cents higher than what the law stipulates. Now they are justifying this to say that in 2022, the government had approved, via press release, the increase of bus fares. May I say that the fact that the bus fares are regulated by law, the change in the fares cannot be done by way of a press release. It must be done in like manner, by way of an SI. There is no SI or there was no SI issued in 2022, changing in the rates from what they were in 2017. And so, the increase in fares that these companies have implemented is illegal and shall be considered void. The Chief Transport Officer is going to address the issue with the bus companies. I believe that they were sent individual letters informing them that the fees increase was illegal and for them to stand down. I want to advise the companies that if they wish to increase fares and we have to be fair to them, we do understand that inflation has gone up, fuel prices have gone up and so there may be a justifiable need for the increase, but there is a right way to do it.”

 

Reporter

“I don’t want to be speculative, but suppose these bus operators say, okay, we can’t increase the price. Well, it does not make sense we do business with a loss, and we just say, park the go on strike. What then would you do? Because then we would have a national transport crisis.”

 

Chester Williams

“Well, if they go and strike that is within their right. I am sure that there are many bus companies who would be more than happy to take up the runs that they’re currently operating.”