Barbados has taken a monumental step toward modernizing its public transportation infrastructure with the formal introduction of 35 new electric buses on Wednesday. This strategic initiative, supported by a substantial $21 million government investment, aims to resolve persistent service reliability issues, particularly within the Scotland District and central regions, while advancing the nation’s environmental goals.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works, Santia Bradshaw, announced the procurement during a ceremony at the Bridgetown Port. She emphasized that this acquisition fulfills a governmental pledge to deliver a more reliable, efficient, and contemporary transit system for Barbadian citizens. The expansion elevates the national fleet to a total of 121 buses, a significant enhancement from the stagnant investment levels experienced in the decade prior to 2018.
While the new vehicles represent a major advancement, officials clarified they will not be immediately operational. Several technical integrations must be completed, including the installation of cashless payment systems, programming of digital route displays, vehicle registration, and the finalization of charging infrastructure. A phased integration is planned over the coming weeks, with expectations for full deployment by the end of January. The public is advised to remain patient during this transitional period.
In tandem with this rollout, the government confirmed its commitment to retiring the entire diesel bus fleet by the conclusion of the current financial year. This move underscores a definitive shift toward sustainable public mobility. Since 2018, the administration has allocated close to $58 million toward both maintaining the existing fleet and financing this electric transition, signaling a profound investment in the nation’s future transport capabilities.