And we’re back to our headline story, Belize’s proposed national bus company. One of the big questions raised at today’s media briefing with Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh was about job security. Specifically: what happens to the bus drivers and conductors already working in the industry? Well, the short answer? There are no guarantees. Minister Zabaneh made it clear, anyone hoping to work with the new company will have to go through a screening process. Only the most qualified candidates will be hired. So, for many in the industry, the road ahead might come with a few unexpected turns.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“We are not going to say that you are all guaranteed to get jobs, because that is going to be reckless. We have to have a certain standard as to persons employed in the company. So you come in and meet those standards, do those interviews, have your qualifications. You are a driver and you drive properly, you pass certain interviews that will speak to your character. We are having a very dangerous situation where drivers are texting, they park and hang out and drink liquor. We know these things. So we have to have certain standards of who can come in and work with this company in the best interest, in terms of safety, and the comfort of our people.”
Paul Lopez
“It is left to be asked, why should I buy into this if I already have a job as a driver, conductor and I am already in the industry and now you are telling me I have to go through a screening process to determine if I will still keep my job or walk out of it unemployed.”
Dr. Louis Zabaneh
“Right, that is where government has a responsibility to commuters and country to say if you want to stay out of it fine, there is others who have decided to join. I believe that anybody who takes that stand it is because they are afraid of a certain standard and they are the ones we don’t want in the industry.”