New BBA President Urges Cautious Optimism on National Company Plans

As the newly elected president of the Belize Bus Association, Phillip Jones is already weighing in on one of the biggest developments in public transportation, the Ministry of Transport’s move to establish a National Bus Company. We asked Jones for his thoughts, and while he says bus operators are open to dialogue, there’s a sense of cautious optimism. Past experiences have left many in the industry wary, and according to Jones, that sentiment is shared by most of the association’s membership. Still, there’s a willingness to listen, and a hope that this time, collaboration will lead to meaningful progress.

 

Phillip Jones, President, Belize Bus Association

“My position is not important, but the position of the bus operators. At this time the bus operators are hesitant and still skeptical, due to the fact that there has been many promises made in the past. At this point in time they are not fully on board, but they are willing to listen with what the new minister and department are doing. But at this time the majority of the operators, they are willing to listen to what the minister and the department is doing. But at this time, the majority of the operators are not with the public transport, but they are willing to listen. And my position is their position, and the majority of them that is their position. So we will see what happens down the road and from there I will get back to the members and see if anything changes. But at this present time, they just want to listen.”