Jamaica Opposition And Trade Unions Against Bus And Taxi Fare Increases

KINGSTON, Jamaica CMC – The main opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Monday blamed poor management of the state-run Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) for pending hikes in bus fares and accused the government of facilitating an increase that cannot be justified.

Transport Minister Dr. Omar Davies  is expected to announce the fare increase later on Monday.

JLP spokesman on Transport, Karl Samuda, said that better management of key areas, such as the JUTC’s maintenance department, could save the company millions and prevent the need for a fare adjustment.

“Until the JUTC gets its act together; until they get that department in shape, I said then and I repeat now, they are unworthy of an increase. They need to do what I called for then: a complete review of the existing structure and see the where the weaknesses are and take corrective action.

“When that is complete and they have a clear assessment of the situation, then we can look at an increase. Until then, I am totally opposed to it,” he said, adding that operators of public passenger vehicles are more entitled to a fare increase than the state-run bus company.

He said private operators were providing a reliable service “and hey are able to keep their units running, because they don’t have the luxury of being able to pay people to come to work and not work. So they are far more efficient in management of their businesses”.

The umbrella Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) is seeking a meeting Wednesday with the Ministry of Finance to discuss the implications of the fare increase on public sector workers, claiming that with the wage freeze in place, the purchasing power of government-paid employees would be further eroded.

“In an effort to ascertain what measures can be put in place to alleviate the burden on them at this point in time, because they are suffering not only as a result of the impending increase in bus fares, but also increases in basic goods and services and for this reason they are extremely concerned,” said JCTU vice president Helene Davis-White.

General Secretary of the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), Patrice Ennis, is also questioning the increase in bus fares, saying it is time for the authorities to find alternative ways of dealing with the financial problems facing the state-agency.

The associations representing some taxi and bus operators have called for an increase of at least 30 per cent but the state run JUTC has not disclosed the level of increase being sought from the government .
Public passenger bus and taxi fares were last increased in 2008.