JAMAICA | Opposition Says Gov't Back to School Transport Plan Not Credible, Ignores Rural Students

KINGSTON, Jamaica. September 1, 2023: The Opposition People’s National Party says plans announced by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz for adequate transport for the new academic year lack credibility and sustainability.  

In a statement today, Opposition Spokesperson on Transport and Works Mikael Phillips said that the plans by the government do not address rural students’ issues and are accompanied by a proposed fare increase, which cannot be afforded at this time.

He said that based on his information, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) does not yet have the 315 units available, and many of them are not reliable for daily operations.

“For the past five years, the JUTC has continued to float large rollout numbers for back-to-school but has failed to achieve them. Last year, 270 was promised, but the company failed to top 180. The 2023 numbers given by the Minister, therefore, lack credibility,” said Phillips.

The Opposition Spokesperson is also reminding the Minister that the JUTC has an exclusive franchise to provide stage carriage services in the KMTR and a requirement for 25,000 seats under the Public Passenger Transport Act (1998).

The promised 315 units will only meet 50% of the seats required for the transit-dependent persons in the KMTR. He said the Opposition is uncomfortable with the situation as it’s known that due to bad government policies, the age of the fleet and lack of spare parts, there is an above-industry normal daily of buses returning for defects.

The Opposition is therefore calling on the Minister to provide a status of his promised rural students' transport system, including a report on the future of the Montego Bay Metrobus Company, which is now operating on 25% of its fleet. 

Mr. Phillips highlighted that no mention was made of rural service provision for students, who must pay up to $500 a day to and from school. He said this is unaffordable for many rural families, and the government must act swiftly to address these issues before schools reopen.

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