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The awaiting media spoke with Attorney General Michael Peyrefitte about the delay and the Statutory Instrument that will be drafted to finalize this decision. Here's how that conversation went:

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General
"On August 7th when we met we agreed to what a new SI would contain. We just wanted the Bus Association and the Taxi Association to appreciate that when you solve one problem or please one sector of the public other sectors are affected as well. Immediately after the decision we made on August 7th there was starting to be some kickback from the Mexicans form the Guatemalans, it was already affecting the local tourism industry. We felt that it was important that whole we would not change our mind based on the agreement we had on August 7th. We want the Taxi and the Bus Association to appreciate that when you solve that problem it created other problems. The hotel association and the Ministry of Tourism had that opportunity today to express their concerns about the decisions we have made and what we have done through the SI for the Bus and taxi Association. We have explained to the Bus and Taxi Association that there will be a test period between now and October 8th to see the effects of the SI. If everything works out fine and it creates any problems that are manageable then we just proceed to deal with those. If it creates problems that we cannot fix or problems that are too big then we have all agreed that we will sit down and reassess the position that we have taken. Because at the end of the day, whatever affects one aspect of the tourism industry will affect every aspect of it. So reasonable heads prevailed today, the Hotel association, they are not happy but at the same time they are prepared to wait and see what will be the implementation of the SI for the next five weeks or so."

Reporter
"As it stands, what is contained within the new Statutory Instrument?"

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General
"Well essentially, because we are a part of the Central American corridor, if a Mexican bus wants to go to Guatemala and just in transit through Belize, they will present a manifest at the Mexican Border. Transit through Belize, do not drop off any passengers, do not pick up any passengers and enter Guatemala with those same passengers. One bus will enter Belize form Mexico and go to the terminal in Belize City to bring people from Mexico to Belize. There will be one stop in Orange walk and the next stop will be in Belize City. But the only people that will be able to get on that bus are people who have tickets internationally. So for you to get on that bus in Belize City, you must be going to Mexico. If you get on that bus in Orange Walk you must be going to Mexico and the same thing in the western corridor. You get on that bus in Belize City you must be going to Guatemala with one stop in Belmopan for people who want to go to Guatemala from Belmopan. But there will be no stops along the way to pick up people for other stops within Belize especially. But that essentially what the SI will cover."

So, as you heard, there will be a trial period to ensure that this decision is sustainable, and to ensure that the negative impacts on the affected stakeholders are kept minimal. We got a chance to speak with the President of Bus Association, and we asked him straight up, are the bus operators satisfied? Here's how he answered that one:

Thomas Shaw, President, Belize Bus Association
"Yes we are satisfied, it has been a long haul and I want to say a big thank you to G.O.B. for actually listening to us. And as I said at times we got frustrated and we thought that it would actually never happen but in reality tomorrow the AG stated that this SI will be signed."

Reporter
"Now, you're looking at the issue of road worthiness for some of the vessels that will be traversing our highways. And we are looking at buses that are pretty old and some of them are in pretty bad shape. How do you guys as an association plan to conform to certain standards particularly to compete with ADO or Delorio?

Thomas Shaw, President, Belize Bus Association
"Well to be honest with you that question that you ask us something that the association has already worked upon. Because we have so many tour operators in this country. We have operators in this country that has been upgraded tremendously over the past couple of years. We have the biggest tour company here in this country which is Premiere Charters. They are actually a part of our association. We have other operators that have the same type of buses and actually can give the same type of service that these guys are giving at the moment."

John Burgos, Executive Director, B.T.I.A.
"First and foremost we are in support of the Belizean people first. We know the issue is not as clear cut as it seems to be. But I am very satisfied to see that some of the people on the table inside were willing to compromise and discuss. And to see how it is going to work out. So we are going to see how its implementation as of tomorrow is going to impact. Like I mentioned to the tour operators and the bus owners, we represent the private sector, we are not here to say that it's wrong, we just going to look at how it's going to impact hoteliers and how it's going to impact other tour operators as well."

The press also got an opportunity to ask the Attorney General and the Minister of Transport if this process couldn't have been sped up. Here's how that part of the conversation went:

Reporter
"Could this have been resolved in a more timely manner?"

Hon. Michael Peyrefitte, Attorney General
"Well, you would want everything to be solve today, this evening by 5. Unfortunately, that's how it goes. In a negotiation, in a back and forth the bus and taxi association have certain demands we couldn't give in to just like that. We wanted to keep everything in place which was unacceptable to them. So it takes time for you to negotiate back and forth and at some point come to a compromise position. It doesn't always take two minutes for that to happen."

Reporter
"Couldn't this thing have settled long before it got to other players coming in? lile the attorney general and the prime minister's CEO?"

Hon. Edmond Castro, Minister of Transport
"No, not at all. If I went ahead and make a decision without consultation with the tour operators, without consultation with the taxi's, without consultation with the hoteliers, you might say I am behaving like my last name, like a real dictator. Man, what happened to consultation? What is so wrong with consulting with all the stakeholders? I think we have done the right thing. We are doing the right thing - consult with all those who might be affected so for us to say well we should have gotten it done two months ago, 6 months ago, 6 years ago - that's nonsense. We are here now and we are making a giant leap."

In preparation for the change, the operators who will take over at the northern and western borders have already started to plan out the logistical changes that will be necessary to make the transition. The President of the BBA told us that he has a meeting with the tourism stakeholders on Thursday to discuss what plans will be implemented to look after those European tourists who booked their bus tickets with the foreign operators to come to Belize several months ago.