7 News Belize

Border Cabbies Have Issues With Guatemalan Buses
posted (September 8, 2016)

And from bus operators to taxi associations. Right after that meeting with the various bus companies, Minister Castro had a separate meeting with the Western Border taxi groups. They too have their own complaints. President of the Mopan Taxi Association Arsenio Panty told us more about their plight.

Arsenio Panty - President, Mopan Taxi Association, Western Boarder
"Right now no bus, no taxi, no minivan could go into Guatemala side to conduct business but the Guatemalans they come here the bus, minivans and taxi drivers too conducting business here in Belize. We are in a 5 association based at the border in total we are about 125 taxi drivers and we are suffering a lot that we are just seeing how they are carrying the tourists and we are not doing nothing. They just pay a fee at the border and they come into Belize."

"When they reach at the border they switch the license plate and they put the Guatemala license plate and they go way to Guatemala with the same bus. That is affecting not only us that is affecting all taxi driver from Benque because they carry the people to the border, we bring the people from border to Benque. From the water taxi too, when they reach the water taxi if there is some tourists they pick up and bring it way to Guatemala and the taxi driver from the water taxi they cannot do their job from the water taxi to Belize too so they are affecting everybody right now. And like how I say they say the Belizean first and now we are seeing that Guatemala is first so we want the minister; the minister invite us today in a meeting here to we will comment all of that and will make if he could do the side that is saying that the Belizean is first."

Today the Ministry of Transport sent out a release saying, quote, “an understanding was reached on a number of issues including unfair competition from buses coming across the western border. It was agreed that those buses would not be allowed to pick up regular passengers once they have crossed over into Belize.â€￾Minister of State Castro will also take this to Cabinet, and will would meet again with the taxi operators to discuss the final proposals.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize