SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine — The management of the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) reportedly held an emergency meeting with various stakeholders this morning, following two incidents, which have left one of the State-run bus company’s driver and a taxi operator dead.

According to a JUTC statement, several stakeholders were present including the police high command, union representatives, the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS) the Jamaica Association of Transport Owners and Operators (JATOO) and Ministry of Transport officials.

“It was a frank and candid meeting and those present ventilated issues of concern to them. The following was agreed: We have been assured by the Police of enhanced presence on selective routes; Our Operations Department will be rolling out buses on a phased basis, but we hope to have full resumption of service by peak, ie, by 5:00 pm this afternoon; We will be reaching out to the families of both deceased,” the statement continued.

JUTC also reiterated that “the safety of our drivers and commuters is our paramount concern and in that regard we have been reassured by the Police that they will be out in their numbers.

“We thank our commuters for their patience and understanding and regret the inconvenience caused this morning. We also wish to express our appreciation to our drivers, who remain dedicated in their call of duty in this most difficult time.”

JUTC drivers this morning withdrew their service following the shooting death of their colleague 34-year-old Mikkel Donaldson, otherwise called ‘Biggs’.

Biggs was shot dead after taxi operator 37-year-old taxi driver Akeeno Britton, otherwise called ‘Bubinile’ was fatally stabbed, allegedly by another JUTC bus driver.