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Anybody who’s travelled Belize’s roadways are used to seeing Guatemalan Linea Dorada buses on the highway. And if you don’t get to the highway much, you’ll see them at their main stop which is the Belize Water Terminal where they take tourists to Tikal and points beyond. But there were no Linea Dorada buses today and that’s because they were stopped at the western border by the Department of Transport.

Seems the decision was taken after a meeting yesterday where bus operators and cab drivers complained that the Guatemalan buses were cutting into their action. Sure, they’ve been coming to Belize unrestricted for years – but now the Ministry of Transport has found out that really there’s no agreement in place to permit it. Sources tell us that the bus line is relying upon an old Mundo Maya arrangement that dates back almost two decades.

So the position taken yesterday and enforced very suddenly today is that just like everyone else, Linea Dorada will have to apply for a road service permit – and until then they can’t travel Belize’s roadways. Fair enough, but according to our sources, the Guatemalans have indicated that they will reciprocate and no Belizean commercial transport will be allowed to travel their roadways.

That’s where it stands tonight, and the Belizean blockade goes into effect tomorrow. The sudden-ness or the un-announced decision we are told – did inconvenience some travellers who’d come in form the water taxi and had already pre-purchased Linea Dorada tickets only to find that there was no bus coming in.