Floralia Offers Priority Seating on All its Runs

It is disabilities week and today, one of the activities included the launch of a priority seating program with Floralia. The bus company, which is based in the south and has three runs – two from Punta Gorda and one coming out of Independence – has partnered with the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities, better known as BAPDA, to establish a priority seating program for not only persons with visible impediments. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Today at the Samuel Haynes Compound in Belize City, several persons with visible impediments got onboard a Floralia bus, marking the start of the bus company’s priority seating program for persons living with diverse abilities.

Marco Frutos

Marco Frutos, Operations Manager, Floralia

“This week is the week of disabilities and so we are focusing on launching today for all our runs and for our chartered runs saying that our two first rows of seats are designated and demarcated with decals showing priority seating for the visually pregnant women, the persons who have disabilities, the elderly and those who are injured.”

Floralia’s Operations Manager says that outside of the brand association, it is in line with the mission of the bus company, which is to provide the best experience to its passengers.

Marco Frutos

“Back in December sixth, 2021, Floralia first launched out of Punta Gorda with two buses; later on in March, we launched out of Independence with one run – all buses going to Belize City. Moving forward, we wanted to cement our place in the bus industry as being a new modern company in terms of uplifting the transportation sector. So we focus primarily in making sure our customers – our motto is making your journey an experience. So living by that, we focus a lot on training with our staff in terms of giving that customer service, making sure everyone is operating up to standards, following the RSPs.”

It is an important milestone for the Belize Assembly for Persons with Diverse Abilities because living with disabilities comes with its own issues.

Jerilyn Seguro

Jerilyn Seguro, Social Work Intern, BAPDA

“Travelling is often one of the biggest hurdles that persons with disabilities face. And when I mention disabilities, I am also talking about those that are seen and unseen. I mean the ones that have mobility issues, it is easy to see that they need assistance. But then we have others who maybe are facing issues like sickle cell disease and other problems that would impact the body and how they move. Having this for them is something that’s truly an event, it is something that we have been waiting for, for so long. And having others aboard, like older persons and those who are pregnant and those who are injured as well, it just adds to all the goodness of it.”

Duane Moody for News Five.