From Preamble to the Belize Constitution: “…WHEREAS the people of Belize – (b) respect the principles of social justice and therefore believe that the operation of the economic system must result in the material resources of the community being so distributed as to subserve the common good, that there should be adequate means of livelihood for all,…”
Monday, October 3, 2022
As forward thinking political leaders grapple with the task of bringing the living conditions of all Belizean citizens up into the 21st century, the challenge of achieving an efficient, comfortable, affordable and environmentally friendly bus service has brought the spotlight on the contrasting economic philosophies at work, and the balancing act being performed by current government leaders in trying to deliver the goods to the Belizean public.
To some extent, all political leaders, especially those in Cabinet, have to at times confront the dilemma of formulating policies for the betterment of the citizens who voted them into office, while facing pressure from proponents of two opposing economic philosophies, sometimes referred to in the strict scientific sense as capitalism and socialism, but more often described in layman’s terms as a governmental approach favoring either social justice or free market competition, which is also sometimes referred to as “laisezz faire capitalism”. The late great Father of the Nation, Rt. Hon. George C. Price, had once remarked that his Belize government was committed to working the “mixed economy”, which suggested that he was tempering the basic capitalist structure with judicious interventions from government to assure a measure of social justice to protect the masses of consumers from the innate greed and rapaciousness of the capitalist (business) class. He is reported to have explained his reasoning as, “not that the rich should have less, but that the poor should have more,” which sounds like a basic spiritual outlook that is fully embraced and extolled in the Preamble to the Belize Constitution.
According to capitalism.org, “Laissez-faire does not mean the ‘laws of the jungle,’ i.e., that business owners can enslave workers. Laissez-faire means operating under an objective rule of law (freedom) as opposed to an arbitrary, rule of man (regulation). Laissez-faire ends where the violation of the rights of others begins. What laissez-faire does mean is that if a business action does not violate individual rights, then the states’ policy is ‘hands-off’ or laissez-.”
Some Belizean intellectuals who declare their faith-based concern for the people, will swear by the virtues of “free market capitalism”, and condemn interventions in the market by government as “rank socialism” and the first dangerous steps toward the dreaded “communism”. They are reminded by others, though, that there is really no “capitalist democracy” on earth right now that does not also practice some form of “social justice” intervention. Even the great United States has its well-known Social Security system that gives various forms of protection to workers; and workers unions are also prevalent in the U.S., and those are a visible evidence of a form of “socialism” at work. So, as P.M. Price endeavored with his “mixed economy”, there has to be some type of balance between the free market and social justice interventions by government to satisfy the needs of the whole population and not just the whims of a few. Striking that balance is the task faced by governments, usually with much help from a vocal Opposition.
Under normal circumstances in Belize, the raging debate over the condition of buses transporting citizens on our roads and highways, and the proposed solutions to the problem would feature major inputs and arguments from members of the Opposition. Unfortunately, internal squabbles and infighting have rendered the Opposition UDP temporarily distracted, and left the bus issue to be ironed out between respective government officials and the bus company owners and representatives.
Those political leaders most under focus in the current bus situation are Transport Minister Hon. Rodwell Ferguson and Belize City mayor Bernard Wagner. These are two men who have built up a reputation over the years as being concerned about the small people; their sincerity has seldom been questioned, and neither has been their tenacity in trying to get things done. In the normal scheme of things, the battle would be between the poor consumers/commuters who must use the buses, and the bus owners/companies that provide the service. And both Hon. Ferguson and Mayor Wagner would be going to bat for the consumers/commuters, the small people. What has complicated the current situation, is that certain new entities and elements have been introduced into the equation, in which case the long-time bus owners/companies are now presenting themselves as “the small fish” being victims of “bigger fish” in the form of well-financed newcomers to the industry, Floralia, and the intrusion into Belize highways of the Chetumal-originated Ado bus line, while the Mayor is also promoting the introduction of a few electric buses into Belize City on a trial basis, which means they would be competing with the old current school buses. Now the original bus owners/companies are crying foul, presenting themselves as the “small fish” in this new scenario, and seeking assistance and comfort from the minister and the mayor for their predicament in competing against the “big fish” – Floralia, Ado and the new CitCo electric buses.
On the one hand, both the minister and the mayor are adamant that our citizens/commuters have been long suffering with appalling conditions of transport in the old buses, and they have been unsuccessful in their persistent efforts to get the bus owners/companies to raise their bus standards. On the other hand, the bus owners/companies are lamenting that they have faithfully carried out the job of providing necessary transportation to the public at low rates and with very limited financing, so they were in no position to make the big upgrade. And if there is outside funding now available, as apparently is the case with some UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) grant funds, they argue that they should be a part of that “action” so they can also upgrade and join this new landmark step in the industry.
The “free market” approach for both minister and mayor would be, to hell with the old bus owners/companies; we have long told them to upgrade; let the market forces play out, and who can’t keep up will just drop out, and the best will survive, and the citizens/commuters will get the quality service they deserve.
But a “social justice” bug may be singing in the ears of these two sincere gentlemen. Is it fair; is it right; is the “common good” being served? These long-serving bus owners/companies are Belizeans too, have employees, families, have battled through tough times. Will all the problems be solved overnight with the new arrangement – Floralia on the highways, and electric buses competing in the city; or will new unsuspected problems emerge? Are the constitutional rights of original bus owners/companies being impinged? What if a hurricane hits, and everything electric is out of action for a while; who will come to the rescue with their old diesel buses?
Notwithstanding the relative silence from the Opposition side, it is all our hopes that the demonstrated “social justice” hearts beating in the chest of Minister Ferguson and Mayor Wagner will not fail, and they will find some amicable solution to this bus dilemma that will see citizens/commuters finally riding in style and comfort, while a productive way forward will also be worked out to see the longstanding bus owners/companies and their employees given fair and just consideration.