MINISTER of Transport and Mining Lester “Mike” Henry yesterday met with the representatives of more transport operators as he intensifies his deliberations with stakeholders of the public transport system in order to resolve some long-standing issues.

Included in yesterday’s meeting at Henry’s Maxfield Avenue, Kingston offices were route taxi associations from the parishes of Trelawny, St Mary, Portland, St Thomas, and St Elizabeth.

High on the agenda of the operators was an application for a fare increase following the recent increase in the gas tax and related motor vehicle services provided by Tax Administration Jamaica.

However, Minister Henry outlined a number of initiatives that his ministry is pursuing to improve the conditions under which private public passenger operators conduct their business. These include: a joint approach with the minister with responsibility for roads to improve their conditions, the definition of a taxi, charges for sub-franchising, colour-coding for licence plates and safety of taxi and minibus drivers.

According to Minister Henry, these issues, along with a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the increase in the gas tax and other related motor vehicle services, must be completed before any recommendations can be made to the Office of Utilities Regulations to approve an increase in fares.

The minister said he has a responsibility to balance the total cost of operations with the ability of the passenger to pay. He gave a commitment to the operators to complete a series of meetings with all the stakeholders in the shortest possible time. However, he said the issues which are directly under his remit will be dealt with immediately.

For example, he has given instructions to the Island Traffic Authority (ITA) to accept seven-seater vehicles that the insurers have approved for full coverage of all passengers. This, after taxi operators complained that the ITA is refusing to provide fitness certificates for seven-seaters despite the provision of full coverage from the insurers.