NBC Says It Does Not Charge 19 Cents Per Mile

A key point of contention between the government and the Belize Bus Association (BBA) is the claim that the National Bus Company (NBC) charges a flat rate of 19 cents per mile, an assertion they say is inaccurate.

Minister of Transport Louis Zabaneh said during a press briefing on Saturday that NBC fares are not fixed and vary depending on the route. He said NBC’s actual charges are much lower, averaging between 11 and 13 cents per mile on southern routes and about 16 to 17 cents per mile on western runs.

CEO of the Transport Ministry, Chester Williams, explained that a trip from Punta Gorda to Belize City, costing about 27 dollars over roughly 210 miles, works out to about 13 cents per mile. A Dangriga to Belize City route, priced at around 12 dollars for 105 miles, comes to about 11 cents per mile.

“For the BBA to be putting out statements that NBC is charging 19 cents per mile is totally untrue,” Williams said.

The BBA has been pushing for fare adjustments based on that figure, arguing that their rates should align with NBC pricing. However, officials say the comparison is misleading because fares differ across regions and routes.

They noted that NBC operations are stronger in the south and west, where longer routes generally result in lower per-mile costs. In contrast, many routes in the north, mainly operated by BBA members, tend to have higher per-mile rates.

Officials say these differences are influenced by factors such as route length, number of stops, and operating costs, rather than a single national pricing system.

The development follows weeks of discussions between the government and the BBA over rising operating costs, driven largely by increasing global fuel prices. Bus operators had initially requested three forms of relief: tax exemptions on fuel and parts, direct subsidies, or a fare adjustment to 19 cents per mile.

“Since the BBA is saying they don’t wish for the rates, and that they reject the rates, then we will remove the rates,” Zabaneh said. “No increase in rates to our people. Instead, the Prime Minister has agreed we will work on a subsidy for the BBA.”

Prime Minister John Briceño is expected to announce details of the subsidy plan on Monday.