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Officials from the Ministry of Transport are expected to meet with independent bus operators tomorrow, as government moves to defuse rising tensions within the public transportation sector and avert a possible nationwide disruption. The meeting comes on the heels of a warning issued by the Belize Bus Association, which says its members may be forced to halt operations as early as Monday, April 20, following Cabinet’s decision not to approve a proposed bus fare increase. President of the Association, Philip Jones, argues that operators are struggling under rising fuel costs and mounting expenses, and claims that repeated appeals for relief have gone unanswered. Jones has also raised concerns about what he describes as an uneven playing field, pointing to the state-supported National Bus Company. He further alleges that the NBC itself is facing operational challenges, including cancelled runs and declining reliability. However, in a statement issued today, the National Bus Company pushed back against claims circulating on social media that its workers are on strike. The company says the video being shared is outdated and does not reflect current operations. According to NBC, all staff assigned to the Benque Viejo station reported for duty, and buses departed on schedule without disruption. The company is urging the public to rely on official communication channels and to be cautious of misinformation online. As the situation unfolds, attention is also being placed on the leadership of the National Bus Company. CEO Suzanna Vanzie, who was appointed in late February, and remains on probation in that role. Vanzie, formerly of Floralia Bus Company, was selected to head the interim management team, though Love News understands the position was not filled through a public application process. Minister of Transport, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, says the decision to appoint Vanzie was made internally by the board, drawing from its existing pool of experience. He notes that her position remains interim, and her future with the company will depend on performance and ongoing evaluation.
Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transportation: “What was done firstly was to have a board of directors based on the shareholders of the company. Once that board of directors was selected then the senior management was selected from there. Looking at the landscape of persons with qualifications and experience in the bus business Ms.Vanzie who is a founder for Floralia, a lot of international experience, was chosen as the CEO. So that is the process that was followed to select her as the CEO by the board.”
Love News will continue to follow this developing story
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