Bus Association Expresses Disappointment in Government’s Handling of E-Bus Pilot Project

As the Ministry of Transportation proceeds with the E-Mobility Pilot Project, the Belize Bus Association (BBA) says it is disappointed in the way the project is being handled. On Monday, the Association issued a statement, calling on the government to reconsider issuing all three buses to Westline, in the interest of fairness and transparency to the industry. Today, the Minister of Transportation, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, reiterated that every bus operator had the opportunity to submit a bid during the tendering period.  He added that of the bids submitted, Westline Bus Company proved the most qualified to undertake the pilot project.  According to Thomas Shaw, the President of the BBA, however, the minister is being disingenuous, saying that even before today’s signing, the drivers of Westline were already being trained with the E-buses.  

Thomas Shaw, President, BBA: “I’d like the listening public to understand that the BBA welcomes change, our association welcomes change, we are not against the electric buses. All we were looking at is transparency in terms of the way we do things. I have nothing against Mr. Chuc getting the buses. All my members were saying that they believe that it should have been shared, one in the north, the other one in the west and then you find two different operators so that you do not have conflict. Because if the same operator operate that bus in the north, more than likely he has to contend with with existing operators and he is not from that district. So this is all we were saying. And we are looking at the transparent part of it that this should have been public knowledge. It shouldn’t get to the point where as the association get to find that out on their own. It should have been more transparent because even though they said we jumped the gun.  I think so said so done because exactly what we put out there is exactly what was actually taking place.”

Love News understands that the training began early as the personnel from the bus manufacturing company were in the country and there was a need to pursue the sessions.  One of the main points of contention for the BBA is that the previous minister, Rodwell Ferguson, had committed to a different arrangement than what is currently being done.