Ministry of Transport & BBA reach an agreement

A shutdown of public transportation has been averted.  The Ministry of Transport and the Belize Bus Association have reached an agreement to settle the B.B.A.’s concerns over Guatemalan and Mexican buses transiting Belize.  Late this evening, we spoke with B.B.A.’s secretary Ewart Metzgen who confirmed they have been able to resolve some of the bigger issues involving the foreign buses and are pleased they were able to accomplish their goal.  Metzgen says that there are some other smaller matters on the table that may need to be ironed out, including an M.O.U.  The Ministry of Transport has also confirmed the agreement with the association.  A release states,  “It was agreed that going forward, only one regular bus run per day would be allowed from each country entering Belize during the day and returning to the respective country in the evening. Those buses would only be allowed to drop off passengers within the country who travelled with them from across the border. And, on their return trip to Guatemala or Mexico, they would only be authorized to pick up passengers heading across the border into those respective countries.” At that meeting, it was also agreed that to facilitate this decision, a change will be made to the existing Statutory Instrument or it will be repealed and the permits of foreign buses would include the new stipulations.  Last week, the B.B.A. sent a stern letter to the Ministry of Transport threatening a shutdown of public transportation.  The association had reported that they met several times with the Minister and other government officials, but the issue was not resolved.   Today’s meeting was cheered by Minister of Transport, Edmond Castro and he was accompanied by Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte; Minister of State Tracy Panton; Transport C.E.O. Ruth Meighan; and Chief Transport Officer, Tirso Galvez. The bus association was led by President Thomas Shaw.