THE State-owned Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is denying claims made by Opposition spokesman on transport and mining, Mikael Phillips, that its bus that was involved in a crash, which resulted in several people being injured, may have been defective.

The bus was transporting JUTC staff and family on Saturday, when the incident occurred.

“Mr Phillips suggested that the bus may have been defective and expressed concerns regarding maintenance and repairs at the JUTC. The company wishes to assure the public that the JUTC’s maintenance and bus repairs practices are of the highest standard. The company does not dispatch defective buses. A bus, just like any other mechanical or electrical unit, may develop a problem or defect at any time during use, and from time to time buses do develop problems while in service; but the company’s record speaks for itself,” a news release from JUTC said.

The release said over the weekend, news reaching the company informed of a chartered bus, operating in the same area as the staff trip, developed a problem. However, JUTC said that the bus involved in the accident is not the bus in question.

“In fact, the Island Traffic Authority has conducted preliminary examination of the bus and has found no defects. The police and the company are in the process of conducting separate and thorough investigations which we expect to provide more details on the unfortunate and sad incident.

“The JUTC is thankful there were no fatalities and wish those who are injured a speedy and full recovery. We also use this opportunity to urge Mr Phillips to check the source of his information and to refrain from making public pronouncements on matters which may result in additional and unnecessary stress to our staff and members of the public,” the release added.

Phillips said he had reports that a JUTC bus carrying staff and family members from a “day trip” in Trelawny, ran off the road into a precipice near Moneague, St Ann, injuring 29 people.

While expressing sympathy for the injured, Phillips said he is thankful that there has been no report of loss of life.

He said at least 22 of the injured are JUTC employees, and that the accident happened on their way back to the Corporate Area.

The Opposition spokesman said the incident occurred at a time when there are heightened concerns about the company’s ability to conduct common maintenance and repairs on its fleet of buses.

“Some of the persons among the injured are already suggesting that the unit may have been defective or developed a defect en route, which contributed to the accident,” Phillips said.

He said, too, that if this is so, it requires an investigation because the safety of both the staff and the public is paramount, and with back-to-school just weeks away, every effort must be made to ensure that buses are safe for the more than 200,000 commuters, especially students, who will be utilising the bus service as schools reopen.

Phillips called on the management of the JUTC to conduct an independent investigation of the incident, and provide a detailed report of the cause of the accident.