KINGSTON, Jamaica — Taxi drivers who ply the Duhaney Park to Half Way Tree route in St Andrew have reportedly withdrawn their service to protest last night’s stabbing death of one of their colleagues allegedly by an employee of the Jamaican Urban Transit Company (JUTC).

Since that murder, one JUTC driver has been shot dead, prompting workers at the State-run bus company to also withdraw their service.

The move has left scores of commuters stranded in the Kingston Metropolitan Area and St Catherine.

The constabulary’s Corporate Communications Unit has confirmed the killings but said it is unable to provide details at this time.

Cecil Thoms, Corporate Communications Manager at JUTC, told OBSERVER ONLINE that contrary to early reports, only one bus driver was killed.

He also informed that the company is not labelling this morning’s actions of its drivers as a strike but is instead calling it a “cool off” period.

“It’s a situation where there is high tension. High tension between our drivers, high tension between the taxi operators, given that both of us have suffered in respect to losing persons, the JUTC having lost a drive mechanic this morning and the taxi association having lost a member last evening,” Thoms said.

“In the wisdom of our management we have decided that it’s best for our crew to have what we call a ‘cool off’ period. They are cooling off until we’re best able to determine what is taking place, whether or not it’s safe for them to resume their work.”

But Thoms said that the “cool off” period will not be indefinite.

“We are watching and monitoring the situation, minute by minute and hopefully we will have the full resumption of our buses in short order,” he noted.

Since the strike, Transport Minister Robert Montague has urged calm among all stakeholders as authorities try to restore normality to the transportation sector as soon as possible.

He said the police are still investigating the two incidents which has caused tension in the sector.

Montague noted that the police are now positioned at depots and have increased patrol on various routes.

“I wish to put on my human hat and say to the family of the deceased, my profound condolences and deepest sympathies. I cannot imagine the pain associated with your loss,” Montague added.

Kelsey Thomas