SENIOR Superintendent Radcliffe Lewis, head of the Police Traffic Division, has given the thumbs up to the Public Passenger Vehicle Moderinisation Council's (PPVMC) computerized self-regulatory software, the Public Transport Management System (PTMS).

"I am with this 100 per cent, and I know it will benefit the work of the police," SSP Lewis told Auto on Wednesday. "The system (PTMS) will assist immensely in controlling the robots, and in the proper control and monitoring of all PPV vehicles on the road."

He was visiting the first of several workshops arranged by the PPVMC, a body representing over 90 per cent of Jamaican operators of public passenger transport vehicles, including minibuses, hackney carriage and route taxis owners. It was held at held at Worldnet Customer Care Centre, Portmore Pine Plaza in St Catherine.

The PPVMC is preparing to partner with the Government to introduce the self-regulatory computerised monitoring system to the sector, to assist the Transport Authority in bringing order and regulation to the chaotic public transport system under proper control.

Wednesday's workshop attracted a large number of persons representing public passenger transport vehicles operators from Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Trelawny, St Ann and St Mary, who got first-hand experience of how the system works and its effectiveness.

According to Hurshel Cyrus, Chief Executive Officer of Alyjaz Business Solutions Limited, the business consulting firm which is working with the PPVMC on introducing the PTMS to Jamaica, the opening of the customer care centre and the workshops shows that the public passenger transport operators are ready to go.

"All we are waiting on now is for the Transport Authority to start the working committee meetings," he explained, noting that it is the Transport Authority which will have to set the rules for the operators and their employees and the PTMS will facilitate the process by providing the required database.

"The PTMS will ensure a comprehensive collection, processing and analysis of data on all facets of the sector's operation," Cyrus added.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. Morais, sees the introduction of the PTMS as the basis for the partnership between Government and private transport operators, to improve and regularize the much maligned public transport system.

Dr Guy said that the ministry has looked at the system and believes it can deliver the missing link to significantly improve regulation of private public passenger vehicles.

He said it will help the TA to address issues like the training and certification of public passenger vehicle operators; integrated monitoring mechanisms; strengthening the licensing and legislative framework and regulatory and monitoring ability of the authority; and rationalisation of route taxi associations.