BELIZE CITY, Fri. July 10, 2020– The drivers of the popular “dalla van,” a taxi that mostly services the Belize City southside, and takes people from point A to point B along its routes for a fare of $1, are now charging $2 for the same ride without receiving authority from the Belize City Council to make such a price change.

As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, many members of the community are now unemployed, and cannot afford the increase.

In the wake of complaints from the public, the City Council has restored the fare to $1.

Councilor Allan Pollard, who is in charge of the Traffic Department, told the media that during the lockdown that was imposed to stem the spread of COVID-19, the “dalla vans” were restricted to taking only 3 or 4 persons at a time, and so the operators raised the price to $2 because they were taking fewer persons, and therefore, making less money, so the City Council did not interfere.

The Councilor said that now, however, the vans are working at full capacity.

A letter asking for a justification of the increase in fares has been sent to the association of “dalla van” operators, but they have not yet responded