The government issued 76,800 fuel vouchers to public bus operators this year, a subsidy Prime Minister Gaston Browne says prevented widespread fare increases amid rising global fuel costs. The measure formed a key part of the cost-of-living relief outlined in Thursday’s presentation of the 2026 national budget.
Browne told Parliament that 198 bus operators benefited from the voucher system between January and October 2025, helping to keep transportation affordable for thousands of commuters who rely on the public bus network daily. He said the subsidy programme cost the government around $1.1 million, but was necessary to stabilize one of the most sensitive parts of household spending.
“This support made it possible to avoid raising bus fares, even as international fuel prices climbed,” Browne said, noting that transportation costs have a direct impact on schoolchildren, workers, seniors and low-income families. By keeping fares unchanged, the government aimed to prevent additional financial pressure on households already coping with elevated food and utility prices.
The Prime Minister linked the initiative to the broader suite of cost-of-living measures in the budget, including the suspension of the 42 percent Common External Tariff on selected essential food imports, continued subsidies on LPG and electricity, and the doubling of the Food Voucher Programme in 2026.
He said the government is committed to ensuring that everyday essentials — including transportation — remain within reach for vulnerable households. Nearly 7,000 pensioners and more than 1,600 vulnerable families currently receive direct assistance through various social programmes that will continue or expand next year.
Browne added that keeping fares stable helped support economic recovery by ensuring workers and students could travel reliably without added cost. He said the government will continue working with transport associations to evaluate further measures to support the sector as fuel prices fluctuate.
Budget debate continues next week.
