Minister of Transports Explains Transport Board’s Decision on Ritchie’s Bus Line
Rodwell Ferguson
On Tuesday, News Five’s Paul Lopez took us on a ride along to Belmopan to show the passenger experience using Belize’s public transportation system. It was an essential perspective given the public debate over bus permits and runs. You may recall that Ritchie’s Bus Line made headlines over the last week after the Transport Board decided not to renew its road service permit. The two-year permit recently expired, and upon applying for a renewal, the company was informed that it would not be renewed. We have received numerous confirmations from commuters, the Minister of Transport Rodwell Ferguson, and the President of the Belize Bus Association that the company’s service and buses have worsened over the years. The Transport Board’s decision is part of a larger initiative by the Ministry of Transport, through the I.D.B., to completely upgrade Belize’s public transport system by 2024. Ritchie’s Bus Line is among the first companies in the industry to have its permit revoked. Today, the press caught up with the Minister of Transport to get his take on the board’s decision.
Rodwell Ferguson
Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport
“First of all I want to say something that I am not what people think of me. I have been given a responsibility as the minister of youth, sports and transportation. I commit that whatever responsibility has been given to me that I will upgrade it and uplift it for the benefit of the Belizean people. Transportation has been a very difficult ministry over donkey’s years and many ministers have come in and tried to fix it and apparently nothing really happened. When I came in 2020 I committed to my staff and nation that I am going to attempt to fix the transport industry. I am hopeful that by the end of 2025 it is fixed and all Belizeans are happy. What happened to Mr. Richie, I wouldn’t want to see happen to anybody. I know Mr. Richie from childhood. We grew up in Stan Creek Valley together. But, I keep telling bus operators we are following an I.D.B. study that we must do certain things by a certain time. I am also following Plan Belize that we are going to upgrade the buses that runs on the highways across the country. Unfortunately Mr. Richie’s buses are constantly breaking down on the road and the Transport Board made a decision outside of me. They said Mr. Richie we the warn you so many times. We expected that at least you would get some extra buses to meet commuter’s demands. That didn’t happen so they made a decision and decided what they want to do. I have to comply with them because I am not the Transport Board.”
