By Breaking Belize News Staff: Minister of Transport Louis Zabaneh rose in the House of Representatives on Friday to present the Public Transportation Investment Bill, 2026, as Government moves ahead with its plan to restructure Belize’s public transportation system through the National Bus Company (NBC) in the face of a looming bus shutdown on Monday.
The Bill seeks to approve, ratify and confirm Government’s investment in NBC, including the transfer and vesting of certain public transportation assets in the company, while also providing for proposed exemptions from taxes and duties for NBC.
Zabaneh defended the reform, saying years of deterioration, the issuing of excessive permits and growing competition have left the sector unsustainable. He said the number of operators grew from approximately seven in the 1970s and 1980s to 31 by March 2026, creating what he described as a “race to the bottom.”
Government opted for a public-private partnership rather than nationalizing the sector. Zabaneh said nationalization could have required approximately $19 million in compensation to operators, in addition to more than $25 million in contemplated investment.
The House is also being asked to approve a limited concession for NBC along the Western Corridor and an exclusive concession along the Southern Corridor. The Western Corridor covers the highways connecting Benque Viejo del Carmen, San Ignacio, Santa Elena, Belmopan and Belize City, while the Southern Corridor covers Punta Gorda, Independence and Mango Creek, Dangriga, the Coastal Road to La Democracia and Belmopan.
Zabaneh said NBC has already invested in eight newer buses, with resources available for up to 15 buses, while cameras, electronic ticketing and electric buses are also part of the modernization plans. Government has also invested approximately $2.5 million in the Belize City and Belmopan transportation terminals.
The debate comes as Belize’s bus sector faces an immediate crisis, with the Belize Bus Association warning of a nationwide shutdown beginning Monday, August 24 over the rising cost of diesel and the expiration of the fuel subsidy. The Association is calling for the subsidy, which expired on August 4, to be reinstated retroactively.
The Government’s proposed legislation and the threatened shutdown come as the country faces two competing realities: Government is pursuing a long-term restructuring of public transportation through NBC, while private operators are demanding immediate assistance to keep their buses on the road.
Zabaneh urged members of both sides of the House to support the Bill, stressing that the ultimate focus of the transportation system must be the Belizean commuter.
The post Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh defends Public Transportation Bill as bus shutdown looms Monday appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Breaking Belize News Staff: Minister of Transport Louis Zabaneh rose in the House of Representatives on Friday to present the Public Transportation Investment Bill, 2026, as Government moves ahead with its plan to restructure Belize’s public transportation system through the National Bus Company (NBC) in the face of a looming bus shutdown on Monday.
The post Transport Minister Louis Zabaneh defends Public Transportation Bill as bus shutdown looms Monday appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.