WILLEMSTAD - Despite a 1.2 million guilder deficit in its operating budget, the government of Curaçao has allocated an additional two million guilders to purchase five new buses for ABC Busbedrijf. This expansion will bring the fleet to ten new vehicles by 2025, as announced by Minister of Traffic, Transport, and Spatial Planning, Charles Cooper, in Parliament.
The first five buses, consisting of four large and one medium-sized vehicle, are expected to arrive in January. Initially scheduled for delivery in November, the process was delayed. These new buses will be equipped with air conditioning to alleviate the heat issue for both passengers and drivers.
According to John Cijntje, director of ABC Busbedrijf, these buses were not part of the original budget, but the necessary steps were followed to proceed with their purchase. The vehicles will run on fossil fuels but utilize the cleaner Euro 5 diesel, currently the least harmful fuel available in Curaçao.
The large buses have a capacity of fifty passengers and are equipped with a kneel function, a mechanism that lowers one side of the bus to reduce the boarding height. The medium-sized bus, with space for thirty passengers, is the first of its kind in Curaçao featuring no steps at the entrance and a low-floor design, improving accessibility. Additionally, the engine of this bus is located at the rear, which is ergonomically beneficial for drivers by preventing heat buildup near the driver’s seat.
ABC Busbedrijf hopes to secure an additional three million guilders in investment subsidies in the future to purchase nine more medium-sized buses. For now, the decision was made to inject two million guilders for the acquisition of five buses.
Financial Deficit
Despite these investments, the company’s financial situation remains a concern. Minister Cooper reported that ABC Busbedrijf informed him of a 1.2 million guilder deficit in its operating budget. He stated that no immediate solution is available, as the 2025 budget is already under review.
“We will have to wait and see how this problem will be addressed,” Cooper concluded.