City Council Meets With Bus Owner To Discuss Removal of Oversized City Buses

Phillip Jones

At the beginning of the week, City Hall, through the Traffic Department, brought into immediate effect the removal of a number of commuter buses that did not meet specific requirements put in place to alleviate traffic in the city streets.  The measure, which was initially proposed by the Belize City Council in 2009, under Mayor Zenaida Moya, calls for the standardization of the size of buses being used.  A meeting was held on Tuesday between Traffic Manager Kevaughn Jenkins, councilor Alifa Elrington-Hyde and Phillip Jones, C.E.O. of Belize Transit Services Limited to determine the way forward.  This morning, a total of seven buses were measured, two of which were removed altogether.  The remaining buses were found to be in conformity and have been approved to returned to their daily runs.  News Five spoke with Jones for an update on the situation.

Phillip Jones, CEO, Belize Transit Services Ltd.

“At the moment we are still in negotiations in terms of coming to some sort of compromise.  This morning at nine, we took the buses that have been considered not to be street legal so that they can measure sizes to determine what will be the street legal size for the city, for the city planning.  So far, that went well.  We have not received anything in writing as yet and we are still negotiating to see what will be the size and what will be the extension if extension is granted.”

Isani Cayetano

“I understand you guys met with the councilor responsible for traffic and what have you yesterday, as well as the traffic manager.  What is the outcome of that meeting?”

Phillip Jones

“Well the meeting was just basically me stating my position outcome is positive.”