But is the BBA fighting this battle alone? If you check social media, most of the public comments by commuters say they would rather catch Floralia. For decades, the traditional operators have been plagued with buses that break down, or with windows that can't lower, and seats that are too small. Just this weekend, the rear door of Sylva's bus fell off while it was on the street.
But according to the BBA, they want to upgrade their buses, they just can't afford it the way Floralia can. And while secretary of the Association, Ewart Metzgen, says they need help from the lending institutions, tour operator and firebrand Yhony Rosado says it's the government who should be footing that bill.
Ewart Metzgen, Secretary, BBA
"We want to improve, we are telling them what we need to improve, if they give us what we want, we will show you we could do better, but without giving us what we are asking for, it can't be done."
Ewart Metzgen, Secretary, BBA
"The BBOC has 16 runs, the minister is saying that by December 31st this year, we need to have 50% of our fleet, 2007-2012 models buses. Now, the cost of one of those buses in the US, let's say we use Floralia, what they have, $350,000 by 8, you're looking at 2-point-something, almost 3 million dollars. If we don't get the support from the banking and the lending institutions in this country, we will can't do it."
Yhony Rosado, Tour Operator
"Please YouTube and research El Salvador, they just got 200 buses and the government is giving it to the operators for them to give them a push, that's how you do it. If Mr Ferguson wanted to help the Belizeans, the tour operators, we're the ones who are working hard, sometimes it's ridiculous how these ministers behave."
"For the banking institution, it's better if you don't borrow, we don't need to borrow, if you guys borrow you will die and you will not pay, because the interest rates in our banks is ridiculous."
"So the BBOC and the BBA are getting chanced. So what do we have to do? We just have to make a phone call. Listen, I don't see what's wrong in telling this nation we will burn tires, we will burn bus, we will burn whatever you take away from us, I don't see what's wrong, because if you don't take away anything, we won't burn anything."
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