Veteran Bus Operator Says Plan Could Work—If It’s Fair

As the conversation around Belize’s proposed national bus company rolls on, we caught up with someone who’s been in the driver’s seat of the industry for years, Joel Armstrong of Armstrong Bus Line. He’s a veteran member of the Belize Bus Owners Association, and while the group has been vocal in its opposition, Armstrong’s take was a bit more measured. He told us he’s still listening and learning, but if the playing field is fair for everyone, he thinks the plan could actually work.

 

Joel Armstrong, Bus Operator

“Buying into the plan, I always believe in listening so that I can learn. I have had one on ones with the minister and in public. It is a good plan while it is applied in the right way and you have responsible people. We tend to think one sided. That is to say Vaughn is my friend so I will give you better opportunity and we nuh wah worry about him, he is small time. We need to be on a level playing field and make everybody get equal. You wont say like how this man could get five bus we will just squeeze Mr. Armstrong out and make him a janitor. We need to give everybody, everybody is valuable. That is the way I believe as a human. We all work together. We are all one chain and once one pop everything shattered.”