Yesterday we reported extensively on the National Bus Company. It's in its early days, and the criticisms are myriad.
And, sitting on the outside is the Belize Bus Association - whose members are the holdouts - they did not join the NBC.
Well the Minister of Transport said that the door will always be open to them:
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"They had the option to be a part of it and receive any kinds of benefits from having a larger company that can purchase newer buses, because it's a bigger company, having whatever incentives that make the company more productive, they had that freedom. So, if they decided not to do it, it's because, for whatever reason, they may feel that they can have equal service as the National Bus Company, and we wish for them to be able to do that."
"So, once they can do that and abide by the regulations, then good for them, but we will ensure that those requirements that they have on their road service permits are fully enforced."
Reporter
"And of course, gas incentives, they're talking about the potential getting rid of GST off of gas."
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"No, not even the National Bus Company will get that, so don't believe that that's possible."
Reporter
"Are the doors closed for any other operator to join?"
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"No, no, not at all. In fact, I think just yesterday we had two who were not a part of it, who are asking that they have an interest, and that's fine, we welcome them. We will have to take a couple, maybe a few months before we can actually maybe realize that, but we're happy to hear that they are interested in coming in."
Reporter
"So, in like a month or two, there are additional companies that they're still privately owned, and they say, you know what, it's not working out for me. Would you guys buy us over? Are you considering that?"
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport
"Yes, yes, that's already the door has always been open, and we would have wanted as many of them to come in, right? So, if they decide afterwards, some of them did say from the beginning, we want to say if this is really true and if it really happened, well, they're able to see that it is happening, right? So, in that case, then they are welcome to the table."
17 bus operators have joined the NBC.
