Serrano Bus Permit Ruling: Minister Zabaneh Says ‘Transport Board Will Fix Issues’

The High Court’s decision in favour of bus operator Hernan Serrano has raised fresh concerns about fairness in Belize’s transport sector. Earlier this month, Justice M. Javed Mansoor ruled that the Transport Board violated Serrano’s constitutional rights when it refused to renew his road service permit without giving him a fair hearing.

Serrano has operated his bus service from Milpa Site to Belize City since 2015. He applied for renewal in February 2023. After the Transport Board held an emergency meeting without inviting Serrano and voted against the renewal, the court found that it violated natural justice and Regulation 207, which requires notice and hearings for permit renewals.

Minister of Transport Dr Louis Zabaneh told News Five that the ruling is being respected.

“What should have happened was that the operator should have been given an explanation and an opportunity to defend the concerns that the transport board had. That was not done. And then the court ruled as it did,” he said.

According to Zabaneh, “We are ensuring now that the transport board does what it has to do properly because we have so many issues that we have to address.”

He added, “It is incumbent upon us and the transport board to make sure that we do the things the right way so that we can try to bring more order within the sector.”