Floralia Bus Line Regains Permits After Court Ruling

Despite having a few rocky weeks, Floralia Bus Line is back on the road and has regained two of its three southern road service permits that were annulled. Last month, the high court ruled that the company’s southern road permits were improperly awarded by the Transport Board. The courts had given the board a deadline of December 10 to issue the permits properly, but it couldn’t do so.  The department had requested an extension, but it was denied. Minister of Transport Rodwell Ferguson says that Floralia later applied for the vacant runs that were created by its removal and were successful.  

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Transport: “Floralia, based on the court’s decision the 5:30 and the 6:30 from PG was halted because James took them to court and they practically won the case. For that reason the board met on the 14th of December and the only company that applied for the 5:30 and the 6:30 out of PG was Floralia. So automatically they were granted the two runs from PG 5:30 and 6:30. While James wanted to argue but normally you ask for a 21 day appeal to the MInister but if you don’t apply there is not reason for an appeal so they did not apply so they can’t appeal the case and so Floralia has now exclusive from Punta Gorda 5:30 AM and 6:30 AM. The other one in dispute is from Dangriga to Belize City with Bryant Williams. He had a run but had no permit for the run but he went to court and he won the case and they challenged the Ministry. So that again will go to the board I think around mid January and I think Bryant will also appeal along with Floralia so the board will have to determine which one of them is adequate to accept to get that run and it’ll have to go to the Gazette and then publish and then whosoever got the run and the other wants to appeal they have twenty one days to appeal to the Minister to see what the Minister will decide.”

Ferguson noted that the board is working to ensure there is not a similar occurrence with any bus company