WESTERN BUREAU — The Ministry of Transport and Works has ordered an evaluation of the Montego Bay Metro Bus Company Limited, which, according to management, is now operating at a loss of $2 million a month.

The company, which has had a scaling back of operations over the past month, has been rocked by industrial action and on Monday workers told the Observer that management had indicated that the company had closed its doors.

But yesterday, general manager of Metropolitan Management Transport Holdings Ltd, Major Desmond Brown, whose company provides financial support to MoBay Metro on behalf of the Government, denied the report.

He told the Observer that although the company is having financial problems no decision has yet been taken to cease operations.

According to Brown, the company has been losing about $2 million a month and there are also “a lot of bills outstanding, including statutory deductions”.

An evaluation is to be done, to determine if the company should fold or continue operating with modifications to the services it offers.

“The minister (of transport Robert Pickersgill) has requested getting a quick survey done to see where we are and to see where we go,” Major Brown said.

“In other words, no decision has been made on where we go, so we are going to look at all the factors and see where we go from there. We need to know, for example, if the people want the service; and if they want it, do they want a school bus service only. It doesn’t make sense government pumping money in the company and the people not taking the buses,” he added.

For the past five years, Montego Bay Metro Bus Ltd has provided transportation, at a reduced rate, to students and adults in sections of Trelawny, Hanover and St James. It began as a private sector entity with some funding provided by the Government, but almost two years ago the state took control of its operations.

The company employs about 100 people and has a fleet of 32 buses, including two luxury coaches.

But with the influx of taxi operations entering the transportation sector, the company’s revenue has dwindled while its debts have been escalating.

But Brown was optimistic yesterday that the company will continue to maintain a presence on some routes until the reassessment of operations has been completed.

Management is expected to meet with the disgruntled workers later this week, in an effort to resume the service, according to an Observer source.

Workers yesterday continued their protest, which began Monday, outside the company’s Bogue depot. They again called on management to give them a clear indication on the future of the company.