Minister of Transportation Says Bus Ticketing Reform Needed to Stop Revenue Losses

Minister of Transportation Dr. Louis Zabaneh says one of the most urgent reforms needed within Belize’s public transportation sector is the implementation of a proper ticketing system for the National Bus Company. According to the minister, the long-standing practice of commuters paying fares without receiving tickets continues to create major revenue leakages across the industry and has contributed to widespread theft and poor financial accountability.  Speaking on the issue, Dr. Zabaneh explained that in many cases passengers hand over cash fares directly to conductors or operators, but no ticket is issued in return. As a result, bus companies are often unable to accurately reconcile the number of passengers transported against the revenue collected, leaving room for losses and dishonest practices that have plagued the industry for years.  Dr. Zabaneh says modernizing the system through ticketing reforms will be critical to improving transparency, accountability, and the long-term sustainability of the National Bus Company.

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport: “It is something that has plagued all bus operators ever since and not just in Belize but I’ve spoken to people in other countries. The biggest problem in terms of revenue is collecting everything that’s due to the company. This is why the electronic payment system is so critical. Okay, and we’re already working, and that’s one of the things we said from day one that will distinguish NBC. It’s transitioning to an electronic payment system. That will require time because you know our people will take time to be able to develop the understanding of it and the willingness to use a card in Belize City the pilot has been on where you ride the electric buses and you have an electric card to tap. You go to other countries and people don’t use cash anymore. It’s all electronic. You could use your credit card, your debit card, or a bus card, or a train card, or whatever. And why this has proliferated in many other places is for this specific reason. That there is a significant amount of theft that occurs. The issue with standees is not just a matter of safety, which is the number one priority, that on the highway if you have standees and God forbid you have an accident or an incident on the road the standees can become easily injured. That’s one, but it has been tradition that the conductors and the drivers use this as a way for them to steal. Okay, and I’ve said this over and over. This is not the first time you’re hearing it from me. From the time way back in May of last year, I’ve been saying that this is a challenge that the industry has.”

The minister noted that introducing structured ticketing mechanisms would not only help protect company revenues, but would also provide more reliable passenger data, improve route management, and strengthen confidence in the national transportation system as broader modernization efforts continue.