Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“There is no truth to them telling the terminal workers that they must resign by Friday of this week. What was instructed to them and from what I have gathered from them is that they met with the terminal workers, explained to them what is taking place and gave them the options that are available to them. Now remember that the National Bus Company is going to need employees and will need employees at the terminal as well. And so what we want to do is to make sure that we have a transition period between the first of March and the end of August, whereby those persons who are currently employed at the terminal and even those who are employed at the various bus companies that now form part of the National Bus company.  They will be brought on board with the National bus company and they will have that four month period where they can decide if they want to remain with the company or if for some reason they don’t meet the criteria for employment, then we’ll have to find ways for the terminal workers how are we going to settle with them”

Job Uncertainty Shadows National Bus Launch

With the National Bus Company set to launch on March first, the spotlight is shifting from policy to people, and specifically, to the terminal workers now caught in the middle of the transition. Even as government promotes a four‑month rollout plan, employees say they’re only now learning how the change could affect their jobs, raising fresh questions about timing and transparency. That concern has fueled union pushback and heightened public scrutiny, so we asked Transport CEO Chester Williams whether this all feels a little last‑minute for the workers involved. Here’s that exchange.

                 Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“It will not lead to any delay because then remember I said that we have the four months transition period, so the law dictates that we must do it within a month time. We are giving it four months, right? So they’re being informed now and then we have the four months period for them to be able to decide their mind on exactly what they want to do, and then we see how we go from there.”

Reporter

“And having foreseen that this had to be addressed.”

Chester Williams

“I didn’t get you.”

Reporter

“Meaning that this is like last minute. Yes. You say you have that transition period of four months, but I. I believe that for those employees, it would’ve been good to have known about this before.”

Chester Williams

“But Marisol the talk of the national bus company has been in the in the public domain for almost a year now. And again we could not prematurely see exactly what would happen because we had to wait to ensure that we have all the different companies who are going to form part of the National Bus Company sign on to the National Bus Company. We’re just finalizing that between last week and this week where they’re now signing the subscription to Join on to the National Bus Company. So with them signing on now, we are certain in terms of where we’re going. Hence the reason it is now the appropriate time for us to go to the employees and say to them, this is what is going to happen. And again, we are still well within the ambits of the law, which says one month. We’re giving it four months. I believe that we’re on good footing where that is concerned.”

Government Investing $2 Million In Bus Terminals Upgrade

As questions linger over how the National Bus Company rollout will affect terminal workers, the government is now pointing to a major investment aimed at strengthening the very infrastructure those employees help operate. Transport C.E.O. Chester Williams says cabinet has approved two million dollars to overhaul the Belize City terminal and another seven hundred thousand for upgrades already underway in Belmopan, long‑term improvements he argues will raise safety standards and boost government’s equity in the new national system. Here’s how he described the upgrades.

                   Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“Spending two million dollars on the Belize City terminal is not a bandaid fix at all. That is extensive repair and retrofitting. The terminal in Belize City, the current terminal is going to be brought to human standards. That’s the reason why we get that amount of money approved. And with the upgrades in the terminal, that increases the government equity in the National Bus Company because remember, as minister have said, what the government is putting into the company are the terminals across the country. So the fact that we are retrofitting these terminals, the cost for them increases. Likewise in Belmopan, putting in seven hundred thousand dollars into Belmopan terminal is not a bandaid fix either. And I wish you would take a visit to the Belmopan terminal to see the upgrade that has been done in the first half of the terminal and report to the Belizean people the comfort and the luxury that you’ll be seeing when you visit the Belmopan terminal. Come tomorrow and see and see the work that is taking place there. It is totally transformed. Look nice. You enter there you don’t want to leave. It’s comfortable and that’s what we want for the terminals.”

Williams says those multimillion‑dollar upgrades aren’t cosmetic at all, but part of a long‑term push to make bus terminals safer, more comfortable, and a stronger asset within the new national transit system.

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Transport Overhaul Leaves Terminal Workers Uneasy first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Gabriel Zetina

Gabriel Zetina, UDP Caretaker, Belize Rural South

“It is the reality that we have been experiencing complete destruction and dredging at a large scale. At some point, like I mentioned didn’t he press conference, one has to ask if they are now dredging to sell that resource, because the land is already filled. An ultimately, it is the fishermen, the tour guides and the tourism product being affected. So its destruction man. Because, many of these places were once upon a time flats for fly fishing. We in the bay had tarpons and many other fish, famous for lobster traps because of the rocks. But today that is no longer the case, but many of these fishes don’t grow outside on the reef or out there in the deep waters. They grow out here in the mangroves, in the shallow waters and when they get to a certain size they go out. That is where the fishermen are being affected.”

Zetina Urges Review of Golf Cart Permits to Ease SP Traffic

We also asked Zetina about the longstanding traffic congestion in San Pedro Town and how he would propose to address it. Well, he said outrightly that some permits should be cancelled, asserting that individuals have already obtained permits without having a golf cart on the island yet. He called on Mayor Wally Nunez to do something about it.

Gabriel Zetina

Gabriel Zetina, UDP Caretaker, Belize Rural South

“We cannot shy away from the fact, and I don’t know if you guys have been tough with these questions for the mayor but when they were in opposition, they said let’s stop all these permit applications and we need to revisit them. He is in that position today and I can tell you that only the privy, that only they say they pay their way, I don’t have any proof of that, are getting tens of permits approved. That is not alleviating any traffic. So, we need to start cancelling some of these permits who are not active. Some of them have permits for granted and they don’t even have a golfcart on the island. They can’t tell me that is not happening.”

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Zetina Raises Alarm Over Large-Scale Dredging on Ambergris Caye first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Transport

“So to make sure there is not a repeat of what happened we have engaged Courtenay and Coye Law Firm to develop the legal framework for us. They are working on the article and memorandum of association that is going to be used to incorporate the company. I am happy to say to you that company has been formed last week, so we now have a National Bus Company. The next thing we need to work on is the PPP Agreement, it is going to be between the company and the government of Belize. It is going to spell out certain things that is going to work in favor of the company. And importantly, the National Bus Company Act. There is going be legislative backative of the National Bus Company to make sure it is protect. Now this is important for us. All the operators who agreed to be a part of this venture were all allowed to sign an agreement that they are not going to compete with the National Bus Company.”

Belize Builds Long‑Term Protections into Transport Overhaul

Belize’s push to modernize public transportation advances as the National Bus Company solidifies its legal footing, with the Ministry of Transport commissioning Courtenay Coye LLP to craft the framework that will protect the new public–private partnership from the failures of past consolidations. As the company moves closer to full rollout, the ministry also works to ensure its long‑term stability, preparing legislation that safeguards road service permits and anticipates future political shifts that could reshape the industry.

Louis Zabaneh

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“We learnt from our past experiences and what other jurisdictions do. That is why we have the legislation that is being prepared that will speak very clearly to how the road service permits that are under the National Bus Company are to be preserved and how future road service permits are to be issued. Now, it is very possible that in the next thirty of forty years when there is another government that then maybe you would have a setting, but your point is well taken, that they can reconsider. That is what the people, in our democracy you get representatives and if they have enough to make changes to the law that is what they will do, but not without cost. What the Novelo company did not have is legislation to protect them. And once there is a chance of court ruling with cost then those things have an impact on decision making. And secondly, we are betting that because of our extensive consultations across this country that the ones who will protect because they understand how it works will be the people.”

Belize’s transport overhaul aims to stay on track, with the ministry saying solid laws, not shifting politics, will keep the National Bus Company stable for years ahead.

Watch the full newscast here:

The post Belize’s Transit Overhaul Gains Momentum with Tighter Legal Framework first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

               Louis Zabaneh

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“Today and in the next few days, the legal stuff is going on. We in essence will have fifteen bus operators, thirty-one minus seventeen and the seventeen being one. We are talking a significant consolidation. So moving forward we anticipate that his consolidation will yield tremendous benefit to Belize. It will benefit form economies of scale where we can buy in bulk, fuel costs will go down further. This is for the present fleet of diesel buses. When we reach the point for which we have a transition period form March first to the end of August when we start get the electric buses in replacement of the diesel buses we will start to see a significant drop in the operational cost of the company.”

Reporter

“Many of the operators who are not participating are in the north. You said the door will stay open. How long does it stay open.”

Dr. Louis Zabaneh

“It will be up to them. We have heard varied reasons from the operators who are not participating. Some of them it is kind of natural, we want to see if the thing will work first. A part of it to be blunt is political. A couple of the persons say they are members of the UDP and will never support this.”

The post National Bus Company Set for March Merger first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Chester Williams

Chester Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Transport

“I foresee that some of them might not be able to meet the conditions going forward, but them not meeting the condition is none of our business. They don’t meet the conditions then they will feel what the law says must happen to them. We must improve the standards. We cannot remain the way we are currently, no.”

Paul Lopez

“Has there been the establishment of an executive team, who head the company? The executive hierarchy that follows thereafter.”

Louis Zabaneh

Dr. Louis Zabaneh, Minister of Transport

“The company has been formed, at this point it has one director. The subscriptions are being perfected for the operators to sign on to which we are scheduling for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. So that by early next week, we are aiming for a general meeting on the twenty-seventh. At that general meeting the directors of the board will be selected by the general members. That board with its chair will then select its management team. So March first which is a Sunday is when it launches. So all the road service permits that then start servicing on March first is going to be National Bus Company owned. All the terminals who are putting that in there and then we go developing the company together.”

Anna Loague is now steering the ship at the National Bus Company, appointed as its sole director until members come together to elect a full board.

The post Operators Face Tougher Standards, Terminal Fees first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

Last Friday, Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh met with Francisco Hwang, Market Development Manager of Master, a Taiwanese electric bus manufacturer. Hwang said Belize could become a hub for regional operations and expressed interest in selling buses to the country.

Earlier this month, Zabaneh and his team met with Dr. Fred Cheng, Chief Operating Officer of Imeier Green Technology Corporation, and a representative of TRON E, a Taiwanese company specializing in electric vehicles and advanced battery systems. Cheng said his company is considering not only sales but also establishing a manufacturing presence in Belize.

The ministry said the discussions are “exploratory in nature” and reflect Belize’s openness to learning from global best practices. Officials added the talks are part of the government’s broader push to modernize transport and move toward more sustainable, climate-friendly solutions.

The post Taiwan Looking to Build Electric Buses in Belize first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

However, the ministry explained that, “funding for this initiative has not yet been identified. As such, recruitment has not commenced at this time.”

The ministry added that it is actively developing the implementation framework, including eligibility criteria, training standards, and required qualifications for prospective applicants.

“These measures are intended to ensure that any future recruitment is transparent, merit-based, and aligned with national enforcement standards,” it stated.

Once preparatory processes are completed and funding is secured, the ministry said it will formally notify the public and provide full details on application procedures and timelines.

No timeline was provided for when funding will be identified or when recruitment may begin.

The post Transport Ministry Plans Enforcement Expansion first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                       Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“We’re looking at ensuring that every person who rides a motorcycle, especially at nighttime, that they must wear a reflective jacket. So that is coming. There are other things that we’re looking at as well. That it’s going to enhance the safety of motorcycle riders on the road. And again, I would hope that Belizeans would see it for what it is. It’s not a matter of trying to create more expense for motorcycle riders, but it’s a matter of making sure that they’re safe. Sometimes these riders are on the road and at nighttime and you’re unable to see them. Having a reflective jacket is going to help them tremendously. In terms of them being seen by other motorists while on the road at nighttime. So these are things that we’re certainly looking at. And likewise, we’re also working on the on the standardization of helmet, working in tandem with the Bureau of Standard. This year, again, early this year, we should be coming to the Belizean people and telling you what are the standards that we’re looking at in terms of helmets, because that’s a part of the issue. We might say that for the highways we might require this level of helmet and maybe in cities and towns might be a different, we’ll have to look and see how we can do it in such a way that doesn’t affect people in any kind of way.”

The post Will Motorists be Required to Wear Reflective Gear in Belize? first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

                     Chester Williams

Chester Williams, CEO, Ministry of Transport

“We have done a lot in terms of meeting with the different stakeholders, those persons in the bus industry and a number of them have signed on now to be a part of the the new company. We have received the audited report done by the auditors, and those companies that were audited were brought in individually. The audit report was shared with them so they can see exactly what the company is valued. Then based on evaluation of the company, then they decide how they’re going to move forward. There were three options available to them. One, they can choose to opt out to say, you know what? My company value two hundred and fifty thousand just gimme two hundred and fifty thousand and you take all my assets, and I go about my business. Two, they can say, okay, the two hundred and fifty thousand at my company values, I will invest that into the new company as a shareholder. Or three, there was a hybrid formula where they can say, okay, the company valued two hundred and fifty thousand, I will invest one hundred and twenty-five thousand into the new company to buy shares and then cash me for one hundred and twenty-five. So there are a total of three options that were available to them. Majority of the operators chose to still be a part of the new company in terms of buying shares in the new company. And then those operators who have opted not to be a part of the company any other they will be allowed to continue to run or to operate alongside the national company when the company comes on stream.”

The post Majority of Bus Operators Buy Shares in National Bus Company   first appeared on Greater Belize Media.

On the Phone: Chester Williams, C.E.O., Ministry of Transport

“We also agreed that they will be able to use loud hailers inside the front guards that will alert the oncoming drivers that even though it is going to be quite visible that there is a house being moved, the loud hailer is going to add as another feature. We will be looking at the whole issue as it relates to the flashing lights on the building and make sure there is a light flashing from the vehicle to the building to alert anybody coming that a house is being moved on the road. While we agreed to all these things I explained that we will have to put together a Cabinet information paper which will be sent to Cabinet for its approval. Yes we will support it as the ministry, because we want to assist not just stakeholders but those people who are consumers of these prefab homes in making sure they can get their homes at a reasonable cost to them. We also agree we will put together an informercial which they will pay for. The infomercial with sensitize the public on what to expect when a house is being moved on the highway.”

The post Prefab Home Dispute Nears Resolution After Talks first appeared on Greater Belize Media.