BBA Await Cabinet Decision as Diesel Costs Continue to Put Pressure on the Industry

The Belize Bus Association has received a response from the Ministry of Transport regarding its request for an extension of the diesel fuel subsidy. BBA President Philip Jones says the response came yesterday afternoon, after the Association sent its fourth letter to Government seeking assistance with the rising cost of diesel. In the letter, Chief Executive Officer Chester Williams says the matter was discussed with Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh on August 19. The letter also states that Prime Minister John Briceño asked the Minister to prepare a Cabinet paper on the request for discussion at the next Cabinet meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, August 25. The BBA is now waiting to see whether Cabinet will approve its request to extend the subsidy, which ended in July.

Philip Jones, Belize Bus Association: “After receiving the letter yesterday from the CEO, I have been communicated with members countrywide because we have members countrywide and I’ve been sharing with them my position and they have shared their position and the majority had agreed upon to let’s sit and give the cabinet time to convene and come up with a solution or extend the subsidy for the members. So the members had agreed that we will wait until cabinet convenes and then await the response after the cabinet meeting said evening and based on the position from cabinet then they they will decide if they will continue to run the following day or not. So that’s the position where we are at this present moment.”

The BBA had warned that its member operators could suspend bus services beginning Monday, August 24, if the diesel subsidy is not reinstated. The Association says operators are struggling to absorb the increased cost of diesel, along with rising expenses for parts, tires and other supplies. While Jones says the Association welcomes the response, he says members are disappointed that it took four letters before the Ministry responded to their concerns. Jones also says the Association was not pleased with the Transport Department’s handling of the issue, particularly what Jones described as laughter during an interview about the issue.

Philip Jones, Belize Bus Association: “I know the general public is feeling, you know, we are all in this together, man. We’re all in this together. And the last thing the bus operator wanted was to increase fares on the general public. That’s the last thing because there are many families that use the service and this is an industry and we need it to be respected as an industry and that’s all the operators are asking for. If the fuel goes back to 10 change like it was before the conflict we won’t be asking for any assistance. So I just wanted to share that, that the members asked me the pass on that message. We are not here to get rich. We’re just here to provide the best quality service possible that the Belizean people requires and deserve rightfully so. And we want to continue to do so, but this is a last resort, man. No one wants to strike. I talked to the members, it breaks their heart to make these decisions because then at the end of the day they love what they do and this is all they know.”

With Cabinet expected to consider the matter on Tuesday, August 25, the BBA says the Association is now waiting on Cabinet and the Prime Minister to decide whether the diesel subsidy will be extended, adding that he remains hopeful Government will assist bus operators.