The debate over the future of the Transport Board is back in the public eye, and at a time of serious questions about what kind of society Barbados wants to build.
The proposal now in circulation suggests the full divestment of the Transport Board, with all workers being severed and then offered the chance to buy buses at a discount. A new Mass Transit Authority would act as regulator, and the government would give limited subsidies for things like charging and battery replacement for the electric buses.
On the surface, this sounds like a creative way to reduce government spending while giving workers a chance at ownership. Some may even see it as a bold step in modernising a system that has struggled for decades. But before the country accepts such a major shift, we must take a clear look at what is really at stake.
For years now, the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme has placed state-owned enterprises under a microscope. Before 2018, SOEs were receiving transfers amounting to almost eight per cent of GDP, which was a huge burden on public finances. It was no surprise, then, that the government has been under constant pressure to reduce subsidies, tighten management, and, where possible, move entities toward cost recovery or even privatisation.
The Transport Board, with its long history of losses and insufficient fleet, has been viewed as one of the biggest fiscal headaches. Yet this is not just another business that the government happens to own. For thousands of Barbadians, the Transport Board is how children get to school, how workers arrive on time for their jobs, and how our elderly stay connected. Public transport is not a luxury; it is a core public good that keeps the economy moving and ensures social inclusion.
This is why the current divestment idea cannot be seen simply through the lens of dollars and cents. Yes, the board needs reform. Yes, the country must live within its means. But we must also recognise that a fully privatised public transport system, especially under current economic conditions, comes with serious risks.
The wider context is important. Transport is not the first sector where the government has stepped back. The ongoing plan to lease Grantley Adams International Airport for 25 to 30 years, while not a sale, is another example of the shift toward public-private partnerships. The government has also signalled that more than 50 SOEs were being reviewed for reform. The Transport Board’s planned divestment is therefore not a one-off event. It is part of a much bigger change in how the government sees its role.
There are possible benefits to reform. A system run by owner-operators may be more efficient and less influenced by political expediency. A reduced subsidy might free the government to invest in other essential areas such as health care, education and housing. Presumably.
But the risks are just as large — and perhaps even larger.
The first is who bears the financial risk. Electric buses are expensive assets. Even the government, with all its resources, has found the costs challenging. Would former Transport Board workers, now turned entrepreneurs, be able to manage the same risks? Who picks up the pieces when the buses break down, or operators face cash flow problems?
The second risk is fairness and access. Some routes make money; many do not. Rural communities and low-income areas depend heavily on the Transport Board because private operators often avoid routes that do not pay. If the system is broken down into individual owner-operators, each focused on profit, what guarantees do Barbadians have that service will remain reliable and affordable? A regulator can help, but only if it is given real authority, and uses it.
Public transport affects people’s daily lives. Barbadians deserve accountability in a transparent process. What standards will operators be required to meet? What rights do workers have? What protections will passengers enjoy? Big decisions should not be hidden in technical documents until controversy forces them to be opened.
No one is arguing that the Transport Board should remain exactly as it is. The system has problems that must be fixed. But reform must be built on clear policy, public consultation and a commitment to serving all Barbadians, not just the profitable routes or the loudest voices.
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