– Advertisement –
Barbados has received 30 new electric buses from the People’s Republic of China.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Santia Bradshaw accepted the gift at a short ceremony last Friday at the Barbados Port. With this, Barbados now has 89 electric buses—the most in the Caribbean.
The new buses are expected to start running on May 1, 2025. They should help improve transport in rural areas, especially in places like Connell Town and Josey Hill (St. Lucy), St. Albans (St. James), Boscobel (St. Peter), Chalky Mount and Shorey Village (St. Andrew), and Bathsheba and Sugar Hill (St. Joseph).
Minister Bradshaw thanked China for the donation. She said it included spare parts and 30 fast DC chargers. China will also provide more technical help. The bus maker, BYD, will soon open an office in Barbados. This will help with servicing the buses and training local engineers. A BYD expert will also help set up charging stations.
Before the buses can be used, they need to be weighed, inspected, and registered. They also need to be fitted with Wi-Fi, cashless fare systems, cameras, and destination signs.
Bradshaw said that switching to electric buses will reduce spending on fuel and repairs. She expects to see financial savings by the end of the year. The government also plans to buy 35 more electric buses soon.
Liang Jie from the Chinese Embassy said this gift shows the strong friendship between China and Barbados. He believes the buses will help the country reach its carbon goals and make travel better for commuters and students.
Source: Barbados GIS
– Advertisement –
