Senate passes Public Transportation Investment Bill

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Nov. 5, 2026

   The Senate approved the Public Transportation Investment Bill 2026 at a special sitting in Belmopan on Wednesday, November 4. This was despite the Belize Bus Association’s (BBA) demand to meet with the senators before they voted on the bill, in an attempt to have an independent audit of the National Bus Company’s (NBC) finances and plans carried out before any further legislative steps were taken.

   Attorney General Hon. Anthony Sylvester, as Leader of Government Business, proposed the 3rd reading of the bill for an Act to approve, ratify, and confirm the Government’s investment in the National Bus Company Ltd., including the transfer and investing of certain public transport assets in the company and the granting of certain exemption from taxes and duties to the company.  

   The vote was divided: nine in favor and four against, with the six government senators voting in favor as well as senators Kevin Herrera, Rev Louis Wade and Janelle Chanona. Those who voted against were Senators Hon. Sheena Pitts, Damian Gough, Denfield Dennison and Gabriel Zetina.

   The Senate also approved two resolutions granting a limited concession to the National Bus Company of Belize to operate buses along the western corridor of Belize, and an exclusive concession to operate along the southern corridor, which consists of all highways connecting Punta Gorda, Independence and Mango Creek, Dangriga, the Coastal Road to La Democracia and Belmopan, for a period of 15 years.

   The bus owners association asked the senators to consider whether the independent bus operators should not also be given tax and duty concessions under the same conditions. They opposed the exclusive rights given to NBC, which would shut out other qualified operators on the southern route. They also called for the Government’s support to help to improve the entire industry – not just the NBC.

   In their written request to the senators, they stated, “BBA operators have continued upgrading their buses, using limited resources to meet the previous Minister of Transport’s requirements. We maintain that our fleet is at least comparable to NBC’s, with some operators offering better buses.” They asked for an independent audit to evaluate the independent operators against the NBC by the same standards and suggested that such an independent audit consider the true condition and value of NBC’s buses, the NBC’s breakdowns and cancelled runs, which the BBA has reported, and asked for this information to be made available before the Senate voted on the Bill.

   They also proposed that the government level the playing field and accord the BBA the same relevant concessions and tax relief.

   In other business, the Senate also approved the National Security Council Amendment Bill 2026, for an Act to amend the National Security Council Act No. 15 of 2024, to provide for the mandatory security vetting of staff and other persons with access to sensitive information, and to provide for making of regulations in the aspect of security vetting.

   The Senate also ratified the Partial Scope Agreement between the government of Belize and the government of the Republic of El Salvador.