In a development set to impact public transportation across Belize, Transport Minister Dr. Louis Zabaneh has formally upheld the Briceño administration’s stance against urgent financial relief for private bus operators, days after the Belize Bus Association warned that most members would be forced to cease operations by the end of the current week without government support.
The crisis stems from skyrocketing global fuel prices that have sent operating costs for private bus providers soaring. The association submitted a formal request for financial relief to the government, which was temporarily tabled by the Cabinet earlier this month. After the shelving of their request, the association has now formally requested a direct meeting with Prime Minister John Briceño to push for a reversal of the decision.
Addressing reporters on April 14, 2026, Zabaneh acknowledged that the association holds every right to request an audience with the Prime Minister, noting that his ministry has already fulfilled its procedural obligations by forwarding the request appropriately. He clarified that the Ministry of Transport lacks the authority to approve the key measures the association has sought, including GST exemptions and direct operating subsidies.
Zabaneh also highlighted a previous government outreach to private bus operators: an invitation to join the state-owned National Bus Company, which would have given operators access to a complimentary independent financial audit, with auditors selected by the operators themselves. Of the 21 operators originally invited, 17 agreed to join the initiative, with two additional independent operators approaching the government to join after the initial round. The remaining operators chose to maintain their independent status, a decision Zabaneh said the government respects. “This is not a forced nationalization,” Zabaneh emphasized. “If you say you can stand on your own, we respect that very position.”
Beyond the ongoing dispute over relief, the ministry is now facing an additional incident of unapproved fare hiking. A commuter has reported that a BBOC bus route from Belmopan to Benque Viejo raised its standard $4 fare by $1 without prior government authorization, in direct violation of the Ministry of Transport’s regulation that bars fare adjustments without official approval. Local outlet News Five is currently investigating the unapproved increase and will release further details as more information becomes available.