Will Transport Minister Show Up For BBA’s Big Reveal?
The Belize Bus Association is preparing to put its national transportation plans on the table, but will the Minister of Transport be there to hear them out? Dr. Louis Zabaneh confirms that he has received an invitation to the association’s press conference scheduled for mid-next week, although he has yet to commit to attending. Still, he says the ministry is open to new ideas and proposals that could improve public transportation. Zabaneh says new proposals must meet established standards. Now, the question is whether the BBA and the ministry can reach common ground.
Louis Zabaneh
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
“The last press release they put out today, I think they are having a press conference next week. It says you are invited I have not received an invitation as yet. Maybe that is an open invitation. We are always open to hearing good constructive discussions on how they can be positive in terms of their impact on the quality of service to commuters. At the end of the day, that is what matters most. If you recall, we had stated way at the beginning that of our term that we did an assessment of the seventeen conditions on a road service permit and by the time we got to the sixth on the list we would have had to close down most of the operators because they were not complying with most of those basic conditions of their permits. So, in fairness we are giving them time to make sure they live up to at least the conditions on the road service permits. The conditions that NBC has been granted through the National Assembly come with considerable improvements and expectations in terms of standards and law. Now the NBC has to fulfil those requirements to continue enjoy the concession the government has granted. Whatever the proposal they come with they must understand that there are higher standards that must be met if the government is expected to do anything in terms of using the public purse to assist in anyway.”
BBA says it has also invited the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and several other cabinet ministers to its event.
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