Minister of Transport Reacts to Bus Operators’ Letter to U.N.D.P.

Rodwell Ferguson

The bus operators have made clear their gripe that the government would be getting a grant of three electric buses from the United Nations Development Program, U.N.D.P. They raised their gripe with the media several weeks ago on grounds that they are the ones running the buses, not the Ministry of Transport. Now they have reportedly written to the U.N.D.P. requesting consideration in their grants scheme. Today, we asked Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson for his reaction to the bus operators’ letter to the non-government organization. 

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport

“They approached the U.N.D.P. and the U.N.D.P. is saying that I think they’re getting the funds from the European Union as a grant for certain projects for Belize. So we don’t believe that the European Union can give a grant of maybe twenty-five, thirty million dollars as they desire, but maybe if they negotiate properly, they get a grant portion of it, and the rest would be paid back over a period of time. But they are trying their best to figure out what is their way forward and I’m not here to bash the operators. I support them to see how they can improve but they must improve.   I’m not asking them to meet a hundred percent because it is almost impossible. I’m asking them that I want to see the transformation begin December of 2022. So if you have twenty percent, that’s the start. This morning I asked the Chief Transport Officer to give me a list of all the road service permits when they expire. Then I’ll see what happens from there.  I can’t guarantee them that I going to D.F.C or the government and ask them for thirty million. It is for the government to figure out how they can support and assist so when it comes to the concessions and the exemptions there might be some possibility – that’s not my purview. That’s the purview of the Cabinet.”