The Transport Board’s newly acquired electric buses are being prepared at the Mangrove facility in St Philip ahead of their scheduled deployment date of May 1.
The 30 buses, donated by the People’s Republic of China on April 11, will be weighed, inspected and registered.
Several features will also be installed, such as the cashless system, destination signs, cameras and WiFi connection.
Preparations
These preparations will be done by electric vehicle company BYD, and a Chinese technical team.
Talks relating to the donation of the electric buses were first raised in January 2024 during Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley’s visit to China, where she attended the World Economic Forum and also met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Out of those discussions came a commitment from the President of China to provide a donation of electric buses to the people of Barbados, an agreement that was signed by Senior Minister Kerrie
Symmonds with the China International Development Corporation Agency in April of 2024.
The fleet was presented to Government in an official handover ceremony on April 11.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Works Santia Bradshaw said the fleet would be used to alleviate transport challenges in rural areas such as: Connell Town and Pie Corner in St Lucy, St Albans in St James, Boscobelle in St Peter, Shorey Village and Chalky Mount in St Andrew, as well as Sugar Hill and Bathsheba in St Joseph.
(JRN)
