KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), which represents taxi and mini-bus operators, has outlined a 10 point plan to improve operation in the transport sector.

In a statement today, the organisation said it was aware of the need to improve service by bringing discipline to it, ”and we are fully committed as an organization to work towards that in the shortest possible time.”

”We also recognise the strain the members have been going through, having not received a fare increase in eight years for taxis and 16 years officially for buses,” the statement added.

According to TODSS, its operators have also had to bear cost increases associated to increasing inflation and an increase in the exchange rate.

Something, the organisation said, no business could survive and which has ”inevitably also contributed to the reduction in service levels.”

TODDS said, however, it is committed to improving the product and has taken the decision that a strike is not the way to go.

”While we ask for an increase in the fares, we also must improve our service levels. We have taken the time to develop the following action points, which we will implement and also ask for an adjustment of 50 per cent to the fare structure immediately to account for inflationary increases, while the permanent solution with the OUR is resolved, which we have faith the Minister of Transport and Mining will quickly address.”

TODSS’s 10-point plan:

1. TODSS in collaboration with its associate groups and members will work with the Transport Authority in putting together or refining to make public a national code of conduct for the island’s public transport operators and other stakeholders in order to ensure the maintenance of order and standards in the sector. We will also work with the authorities to enhance the safety of the product provided by TODSS members.

2. The establishment of a National Public Transportation Advisory Council to provide an independent council and advice to the sector on matters of local, national and international importance.  Such a group has already been appointed but not limited to recommendations.

3. TODSS will facilitate the establishment of a National Public Transportation Management Council (NPTMC) to give overall management to the island’s over 35,000 public transport operators and to meet with the responsible Minister within the next 14 working days. The appointment of such a council has already started and is to meet shortly.

4. The Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services in association with the British Caribbean Insurance Company and our team of local and international supporters and sponsors will fast track its training, certification and branding project to have hundreds of transport operators trained and certified as First Responders and Road Safety Ambassadors, hence reducing indiscipline in the sector and improving safety in and outside the sector.

5. The National Public Transportation Management Council will meet with the Minister and the various agencies within the next 14 days to ensure that this proposal to have the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) back to the table to decide on fare adjustments is done in the shortest possible time as well as to look at other ways in which the sector can benefit to cushion hardships on the sector.

6. The Council under the advice of the National Public Transportation Advisory Board will meet with the Minister of Energy and other agencies as well as private and public sector bodies to look at the social and economic viability of the sector and how we can navigate through this crisis, including also, working with new players in the sector, such as ARYVVE technologies, RedPlate Transporter and CARYPAY to help improve on our investment. 

7.  The National Management Council under advice from its advisory board will make a public statement denouncing all forms of indiscipline in the sector while, at the same time, work closely with the Transport Authority to ensure that strong probity, discipline and recall is done with members who bring the sector into disrepute. The public can therefore feel safe with TODSS branded member vehicles

8. That the Transport Authority makes it mandatory that all public transport operators be part of a transport organization so as to drastically reduce disorder in the sector and to enhance uniformity.

9. To ensure that an official fare increase is granted within the next three to six months.

10. To continue our process of island wide training, certification, re-branding and refocusing of the sector as we participate in the country’s transformation for our 2030 vision, making Jamaica the place to live,  work, do business and build families.

TODSS reiterated its commitment to creating a service that will be acceptable to commuters and said it will work with the Government to assist the transformation.