When the Transport Department announced a new zoning system and new schedules on Friday, October 3, the dominant bus operator, National Transport Services Limited (NTSL) cried foul – and demanded that the Government revisits its plan because hundreds of jobs would be lost. NTSL was alone in its protest, even though one other bus operator from the North, Chell’s, strongly condemned the move at the government’s press conference. Apart from these two, all the other bus operators have, seemingly, been silent.
We observed that while NTSL has been given the majority of runs in the western zone, there are two other major providers in the western and southern zone. Amandala therefore contacted them to find out what their position is.
James Williams, Jr., manager of James Bus Line, which has been given most of the runs in the southern zone (Punta Gorda-Dangriga-Belmopan-Belize City), told Amandala today that the company has no problem with the new bus zones and the schedules announced last week.
However, Williams told us that the company is concerned about the new “non-stop” rule, being imposed as of Sunday, October 19, which says that their buses will not be able to pick up or drop off passengers for the 50-mile stretch between Belmopan and Belize City.
He said that they are discussing this issue with transport authorities, because it would be an inconvenience to customers who are destined for locations between Belize City and Belmopan, to require them to cross over from James buses to catch another bus (such as NTSL or BBOC) to get to their final destination.
(We note that even though NTSL adverts are saying that commuters would have to spend more money and more time to get to places such as Hattieville if traveling from the South, this is not the case. Foe example, the new system would require that they change over from James to another bus, such as BBOC, at the Belmopan stop in order to get to Hattieville. This does not mean more travel time, just more hassle.)
As the schedule now stands, James has 16 to 17 slots to run the southern zone, between Punta Gorda and Belize City.
While NTSL has been given the bulk of runs in the western zone, the other major operator in this zone is the Belize Bus Owners Cooperative (BBOC). NTSL has 18 time slots for the western zone, and BBOC has been given 9 slots.
Of interest is that NTSL and BBOC buses should no longer be facing off against each other and racing on the highways, because while NTSL is traveling from Belize City to Benque in the mornings, BBOC would be traveling in the opposite direction.
The new schedule provides extended hours to passengers, and notably those traveling to the South of Belize. Currently, the first run is at 5:30 a.m. and the last is at 5:15 p.m. When the new system comes into effect on October 19, buses will run from as early as 4:15 a.m. to as late as 8:15 p.m. Similarly, the west should see runs as early as 3:00 a.m.
Transport authorities say that the intent is to establish a 24-hour public transportation system.
Authorities have yet to announce the proposed schedule for the northern zone.
The Department of Transport says that bus operators are being given until the end of October to comply with the new schedule.
However, NTSL says that it would do all it can to keep its 174 runs in the north, west and south of Belize. The new system would result in all of NTSL’s southern and northern runs being cut.
For its part, BBOC does not yet have an official position. Chairman Isabel Chan told our newspaper today that he has personally not seen the schedule, even though he is aware that his manager has been presented with a copy.
Chan said that members should be discussing the new schedule some time next week.
He also told us that (based on what he has heard) it appears to him that drivers may have to work fewer hours so that they all continue to hold on to their jobs.