Minister of Transport Vows Crackdown on Unsafe Buses and Reckless Drivers

Following a series of alarming incidents involving public buses—including accidents and even one vehicle catching fire—newly appointed Minister of Transport, Dr. Louis Zabaneh, is promising urgent action to safeguard commuters.

“This is a critical function that must be carried out very carefully,” Dr. Zabaneh said today in an interview with News 5. “We have seen in the past month alone some serious cases—accidents on the road, buses catching fire. These are of grave concern to us. It is a hazard to the public, certainly commuters on those buses, but also to other persons on the highways.”

Over the past few weeks, public concern has grown over the ageing and deteriorating bus fleet operating on Belize’s highways. Though no lives have been lost, the recent mishaps have sparked renewed calls for the Government of Belize to take old and unsafe buses off the road.

In response, Dr. Zabaneh said he has already taken steps: “It is critical and I have instructed to carry out necessary inspections of these buses.”

But the minister says addressing vehicle condition is only one part of the equation. He pointed to troubling reports about bus drivers engaging in dangerous behaviour.

“We have to look at a certification program for drivers of buses,” Dr. Zabaneh explained. “They are entrusted with the lives of people on their buses. We cannot have drivers who are reckless, who we understand in between runs, when they are waiting to go back to where they came from, that they are seen in public drinking. Or when they drive, they are seen texting while driving, racing on the road.”

The Ministry of Transport is expected to roll out a more robust enforcement plan in the coming weeks, as it seeks to restore public confidence in the nation’s bus system.