Electric buses have been doing test runs for the past two weeks through the streets of downtown Belize City.
But while they zip around - and prepare for a big time political launch this Friday, the City Shuttle Express - which is the existing provider - is not going down without a fight.
We spoke with their Attorney, Arthur Saldivar via zoom today. He says that his client is still extending the olive branch.
Arthur Saldivar, Attorney
"The city council and the mayor have not shown any indication of wanting to come to the table in an air of maturity, a spirit of maturity and cooperation to see how this matter could be resolved. So since the last press conference, nothing really has occurred."
"There's been some overtures made from some employees of the council, but nothing official and nothing substantive. Invariably what's happening is that with the advent of the buses being introduced, city shuttle and other operators in the transportation industry, in the municipality, are suffering because their runs are being reduced and their profits are being garnished, so to speak."
"This is a very unfortunate situation because what it is doing now, it is putting pressure on these operators, who have been operating on the margins from the onset, to seek redress in the courts in respect of what's taking place."
"Suffice it to say, Shantel, all that was required here was some clarification as to what the city intends to do with this project that they are on, and how it is they seek to incorporate existing stakeholders."
"And since they have shown no desire to come to the table, it is leaving the stakeholders with only one option. The UNDP is fully financing this project. This project is the last duration of a year. In this industry, where stakeholders operate on the margins. A year is a very long time. These people can be out of business in the span of a month, some of the smaller ones. The larger operator, city shuttle, being in the industry the longest, may have more wearithal to weather the storm."
"But city shuttle is not looking at this from a selfish point of view. They are looking at it from the point of view of a responsible stakeholder, looking after the interests of all those participants within the industry, with a view to seeing how the industry can be improved."
"They are not opposed to having electric buses, but where the city is getting free funds from the UNDP and the EU. And those funds are being weaponized against private sector stakeholders. They cry out that this is an injustice, an injustice that requires redress."
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