An announcement about the new bus schedule is expected next week, the Minister of Tourism and Transport said last night.

Zane DeSilva said the ministry hoped to deliver “great news” about the long-awaited new timetable on Monday. He was speaking two days after he told the municipalities dissoultion meeting in St George’s that an announcement could come “within 72 hours”.

He said on Tuesday night: “We are very, very close. I hear some laughs, and that’s cool. That’s all right. We are on the brink.”

Mr DeSilva vowed that the bus system’s maintenance issues will be resolved; and said a return to early morning ferries is under consideration, as is a larger ferry for the East End.

A transportation Green Paper will be ready “in the very near future, which will include all of our transportation in the country, whether it be the buses, whether it be ferries, minibuses; anything to do with transportation”.