Rodwell Ferguson Sticks to the Script on Public Transportation Reform
Bus operators embroiled in a public transportation face-off with the Government of Belize have been relatively quiet these past few days, in the wake of a meeting that was held last week with the Transport Department. During the lengthy sit down, the Belize Bus Association demanded that a press release outlining the points that were agreed to by both parties be issued. While that statement was released late last Friday and the president of the B.B.A. had to return to his membership for their input, there has been radio silence. Transport Minister Rodwell Ferguson, in speaking with reporters earlier today, reiterated his mandate to clean up and improve the public transportation system.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport
“I am here to do a job. I got a mandate from Cabinet and Plan Belize and the IDB, that the bus industry in Belize must be upgraded and I am determined to complete my mission.”
Reporter
“The commuters have complained that they have not been asked about the decisions that are being made that are going to affect them. Do you think that they should be consulted, or what’s the plan?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Belizeans are reluctant to change, but when the change comes they will embrace it.”
Reporter
“Even so, do you think that they should at least be made part of the discussion?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“That’s why when we are finished with the system, we will have tier one, tier two and tier three. So you will determine which bus you want to run. If you want to run a second tier, it’s up to you.”
Isani Cayetano
“Part of the agreement, as far as I understand, is that the bus runs would be divided into regions, so to speak, and so there are more than one players in the north and they are supposed to consolidate to two runs. Is this even feasible?”
Rodwell Ferguson
“Belize is the only country in the world that has private owners owning bus companies. And so, we are saying then that for it to be controlled, we have to limit the amount of operators. Imagine one man got one bus run, the one from Corozal or from PG, when da bus bruk down, what will happen. So you all are commuters, so noh ask me that question. You’re supposed to know better that, you know what, it is not right to have fifty-one operators in the north.”
