Dear Editor,

I am an infuriated Jamaican who cannot believe that 60 years after Independence, Jamaica cannot get a proper, functioning national bus transportation system that serves its customers the way they deserve to be treated.

Recently I stood in the Spanish Town Bus Depot for one and a half hours, waiting on a #23 bus to go to Half-Way-Tree, only to experience the following:

1) At least three buses came into the property, with drivers switching places and then promptly driving out of the compound, leaving at least 40 commuters still standing.

2) No member of the management/supervisory team was visible or showed any interest in placating the customers.

3) Mothers with babies had to stand in the sun due to limited seating. In fact, it was a kind juice vendor who offered a very young mother and her child a seat on her stool, because if she had stood for the duration the rest of us did she would surely have passed out.

How can the people at Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) complain about being “in the red” year after year? There are many commuters, like myself, who prefer not to take the Coaster buses and route taxis, as they are way too reckless and you put your lives on the line as soon as you sit in their vehicles.

But you people at JUTC seem to have shares in these Coaster buses and taxis. I know I am making an accusation here, but that can be the only reason, it seems, they aim to run JUTC into the ground with poor performance.

This is a disgrace! And this is all throughout the old Capital City and Corporate Area. Some of my friends and acquaintances have reported waiting as long as 3 hours before they get particular JUTC buses to go where they need to go.

If I had the power, all the management team and drivers would be fired and we do a clean sweep of this organisation. It is clear that this is a company culture — laziness, indifference, and downright contempt for its customers.

Instead of serving their purpose, they continue to waste taxpayers’ money and be a thorn in the side of the Jamaican public. I am so incensed.

If anyone from the Ministry of Transport and Works bothers to read this letter, please be reminded, Mr Minister, that you face the taxpayers/commuters come the next election, and you already have a failing grade.

Do something! It’s been 60 years of ramshackle transportation systems in this country. Our national heroes would be ashamed of you and what you put their descendants and several generations of Jamaican people through. Disgraceful!

Karen Jean Brown

Commuter

Spanish Town

St Catherine

dizurnah48@gmail.com