BBA disappointed, expected three operators to be selected

BELIZE CITY, Wed. Aug. 20, 2025

On August 7, the Belize Bus Owners Association (BBA) wrote Minister of Transportation, Hon. Dr. Louis Zabaneh, to strongly criticize what it described as a reversal of an earlier commitment to ensure an equitable award of the contracts for the operation of the three inter-district e-buses. These are the European Union-funded e-buses provided to the Government of Belize as part of an e-mobility project which was first introduced in February 2022 along with a Belize City component which consisted of two e-buses.

The original plan for the inter-district buses was for a contract to be awarded to private bus operators for two years during a pilot phase when the buses would remain the property of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), one of the project partners. The request for proposals would be issued by the UNDP with support from the ministries responsible for energy and transport. However, following the change in leadership at the Ministry of Transportation after the March 12, 2025 general elections, and the new plan to establish a National Bus Company (NBC), the pilot period has been shortened. It is expected to conclude at the end of the year, paving the way for the e-buses to be incorporated into the NBC as government assets – this, according to Minister Zabaneh.

The BBA, however, is pressing for the fulfilment of a commitment of former Minister of Transport, Rodwell Ferguson who, they say, had assured them that a tender would be issued and that the buses would be allocated to operators from the north, west and south. The BBA has since learned that Westline Bus Co. Ltd. will be the sole operator of all three buses. They view it as a drastic change and assert that it was done without notice to, or consultation with, the BBA. In their letter to the Minister, they expressed the view that it would create strategic and financial advantages for the single operator, but would also prevent other operators from gaining the hands-on, technical expertise for future involvement “in the contemplated EV transition of the industry.”

In its letter to the Minister, the BBA called for the re-evaluation of the allocation of the three e-buses, insisting that the arrangement reflect the earlier commitment they had endorsed in principle. However, the process appears to have charged forward, as Sergio Chuc, the owner of Westline, told Amandala today that he was notified that his company had won the bid about three weeks ago, but the contract had to be sent to the Contractor General before being signed. The contract will be for runs from Corozal, Belize City and Benque Viejo. However, the time slots have yet to be finalized.

Chuc explained that about five other operators submitted bids. He also mentioned that they had to re-submit bids after the first tender in September or October last year was scrapped. He stated that they were notified in November or December that the process would be restarted. Chuc said the criteria were very stringent.

Westline’s drivers are currently undergoing training and are conducting test runs with one of the buses to familiarize themselves with the electrical system. While charging stations are already in place in Spanish Lookout and San Ignacio, and others are planned for Benque Viejo and Corozal, Chuc says they are finalizing details for the installation of fast-charge stations. The pilot is scheduled to be launched in the first week of September, with runs open to the general public. The hope is that the cashless app will be ready by the time the buses hit the road. According to Chuc, the fares will remain the same as existing fares.

Regarding profit-sharing for the operation of the three buses, Chuc explained that the contract specifies a tiered system: earnings up to $40,000 will be used to cover operational expenses; revenue between $40,000 and $56,000 would be split evenly; and anything above $56,000 will be divided in a 75:25 ratio, with 75% going to the government and 25% for Westline. Asked if it’s a good deal, Chuc said, “We know we will not be losing money; that’s the bottom line.”