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Minister of Transportation, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, has pushed back against bus operators who are crying foul over the government’s support for the National Bus Company. Speaking in the House of Representatives today, Zabaneh said those operators were given the opportunity to join NBC but chose to remain outside the company. He reported that seventeen operators initially joined and another has since come on board, with three more expressing interest. Zabaneh also rejected suggestions that independent operators have been left without assistance. He said fuel subsidies have been extended through March next year, and the government has offered technical assistance to those wishing to form their own company. The minister defended the process leading to NBC’s establishment and said the government is confident in moving forward.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport: “Genuinely and we met especially with operators over three times. Significant consultations. Now one of the things we will hear shortly is that we went to the committee system and used the committee process and that there were a number of people who came and gave recommendations or suggestions but when you look at it it’s the same people that I have referred to who want to stay with the status quo. They’re the same ones who are saying things like, “All right, government is giving this to the NBC, so give me too” Well you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. If you say you’re not going to join the people’s company then that means you’re saying you could stand up on your own and no problem with that. We’re happy for you to stand up on your own. And what have we done ? When through the BBA asked for fuel subsidies right away all our colleagues here, led by Prime Minister, gave the subsidies and extended it all the way to March of next year. My colleagues right here. So it’s not that we’re being one sided to NBC or anything like that. Across the board they’re getting fuel subsides. On top of that we have also told them okay fine you all want to form a company on your own well we will provide any maybe technical assistance that you need if that’s what you want to do but you have refused to be a part of the people’s company which is the policy of the government. It’s the people who have selected the majority over here who are making the policy. And they have that right. Right but then you don’t have the right now to come and demand. You don’t have the right now to come and demand certain things when the government’s policy is telling you that by joining the NBC that is how you get it. But what happens ? If they join the NBC then they will have to meet those standards that are required which they’re not used to. Because they want to be the tail that wags the dog. And we are not here as leaders to have no tail wagging no dog. We were elected to lead and we were elected to make decision and we’re making those decisions on behalf of the people. Right ? So when we stand here we stand with confidence because we have done our consultations, we know our numbers, we know where our people stand and we can stand with confidence, not with arrogance, with confidence because confidence came because we have humbly met with everybody and we have listened and we have come together and the people have spoken in terms of the operators deciding to be members of the National Bus Company shareholders. The evidence speaks for itself. The proof of the pudding is in the eating.”
Zabaneh also outlined the next stage of the investment. He said the planned acquisition will include technology to monitor bus mileage, energy consumption, driving speeds and maintenance needs. He explained how the government’s investment and cooperation with Taiwan will support that transition.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport: “Where are we going? Well, you would have heard that the investment of the government in the National Bus Company the large percentage of it is in electric buses and we want to say thanks to our friends from Taiwan who through their cooperation agreement with us are looking to give us grant funds that we are able to acquire these buses from their manufacturers. In fact, we are at the stage where the tender is about to happen in Taiwan for their two main bus manufacturers there. And their technology is state-of-the-art. And what they’re providing to us is not just the buses per se but the entire system that includes the monitoring, the whole tracking system, looking at all the different technical details of a bus. So on a daily basis they will know how many miles a bus traveled, how much energy it used, what kind of speeds the driver was moving at, when it needs to be serviced, etc. etc. All of that on an instantaneous basis you’re getting it. So this is a holistic system that we are getting from them. And if you haven’t yet had a chance, just in Belize City, you will see the two intracity busses. And you would have heard that the people in fact there’s a young man who is just enamored with the bus that in his last birthday he had the birthday on the bus. The whole family came on the bus. Birthday party on the bus, right? Because the bus is nice and quiet, it is very comfortable, you have AC, you have Wi-Fi, you have bucket seats, you have seat belts, the things that our people deserve in Belize. So, the question again is who are we supporting? Are we supporting the 12,000 plus people who deserve that? Or are we supporting a handful of four or five operators who want to wag the dog? Who are we supporting? That’s the question that I leave. Thank you very much.”
Zabaneh said the aim is to improve service for the thousands of Belizeans who depend on public transportation, with better buses, proper scheduling and higher operating standards.
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