High Court Orders Transport Board to Pay $60K

Earlier this week, we told you that the High Court of Belize has ruled in favor of bus operator, Hernan Serrano in his legal battle against the Transport Board. As we reported, the court overturned the Board’s decision to deny the renewal of Serrano’s Road service permit. The court directed the board to properly consider Serrano’s renewal application, while awarding the company sixty-thousand dollars in vindicatory damages. Today, News Five spoke with Minister of Transport, Doctor Louis Zabaneh about the court ruling and asked him where the sixty-thousand dollars will come from to pay Serrano. Here is how he responded.

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“We the transport board will be meeting early next week to look at the ruling of the court. And certainly, what had transpired was a setting in which the, there wasn’t all the procedures were not followed. So, this time around we are going to ensure that all the procedures are followed and then we will see what’s the determination of the transport board.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is it your review that the denial of their permit way back was politically motivated?”

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“I don’t know if it was politically motivated, but I do believe that there was an error in procedure and we cannot continence with a very basic thing like not reviewing an application or inviting an operator if they’re not performing and giving them due process. I think that is where a lot of what we will have to do. We’re going to be making sure that we follow the procedures. But we’re not going to be backing off on letting operators know if they’re not performing, but they will get a due process.”

 

Reporter

“And until the new the application by Serranos is looked at, what is your understanding should be happening on the ground?”

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“Yeah, we have to move expeditiously. I’m sure the courts will understand that it’ll not happen instantaneously. We have to, but we are moving as swiftly as we can. As I said early this week, the transport board will be meeting and hopefully we can have this addressed in the next few days.”

 

Reporter

“And then the payout that’s going to fall under the ministry of the 60,000?”

 

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“Yes, ultimately, it’s the consolidated fund taxpayers money. And that’s where it’s going to have to come from.”