On Monday, a number of northern bus lines that run from the Orange Walk District and Ladyville into the city unilaterally declared that they were implementing new increased bus fares. Well, tonight, the CEO in the Ministry of Transport Chester Williams says "nutton noh goh soh. "He says the new fares are unlawful and commuters should simply refuse to pay it:
Chester Williams, CEO - Transport
"We have seen a release issued by some of the bus operators from the north, in which they propose to increase bus fares. I've also been informed by some commuters from the north that the bus companies have gone ahead with the increase that they had proposed, despite our warning for them that they are not to proceed with any such increase."
"May I make it clear that the bus fares are regulated by law. There is an SI that clearly outlined what are the fees that busses are to be, to charge from one point to another. I think that that came out in 2017. In the SI it shows that, bus rate from Belize City to Orange Walk, for example should be, I think $7 or $7.50; $7. The express is $8. They now propose to, to charge, I think 7.50. - which is $0.50 higher than the law stipulates. Now they are justifying this to say that, in 2022, the government had approved, via a press release, the increase of bus fares. May I say that the fact that the bus fares are regulated by law, the change in the fees cannot be done by way of a press release. It must be done in like manner, by way of an SI. There is no SI or there was no SI issued in 2022 changing the rates from what they were In 2017. And so the increase in fares, that these companies have implemented is illegal. And shall we considered void."
"And I want to encourage all the commuters who travel on those busses not to pay the rate as stipulated by the increase that the companies are charging, and for them to pay the legally regulated rate that is, in the SI, and with that, those operators would not be able to do them anything."
Jules Vasquez
"I don't want to be speculative, but suppose these bus operators say, okay, we can't increase the price. Well, it doesn't make sense we do business for a loss. And we'll just park the bus, we're going on strike. What then would you do? Because then we'd have a national transport crisis."
Chester Williams, CEO - Transport
"Well, if they're going to strike, that is within their right. I am sure that there are many other bus companies, who would be more than happy to take up the runs that they are currently operating. And so it is up to them."
"I want to advise the bus companies that if they wish to increase fares, and we have to be to be, fair to them, we do understand that inflation, has gone up. Fuel price has gone up. And so there may be a justifiable need for increase, but there is a right way to do it. What they would need to do is to write to the ministry of responsible for transport, asking for the increase with proper justification. Once that is received, our minister was is going to take that to cabinet, and then cabinet may give it its blessing or deny."
"If cabinet gives the increase their blessing, then it goes to the IG to draft the regulation. And then, the Minister of Responsible Transport then signs off on that and then it becomes, legal."
William says the Commissioner of Transport is sending the bus lines letters advising them that they are acting unlawfully.
