KINGSTON, Jamaica— Operators of public passenger vehicles have been granted a 35 per cent fare increase spread over six months.

Fares will go up 19 per cent as of Sunday, October 15 and by a further 16 per cent in April 2024.

Minister of Transport, Daryl Vaz, made the announcement Tuesday during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives.

He said the increase was arrived at following consultations with a sub-committee of a recently-established broad-based steering committee that has bi-partisan support.

He told the House that the committee was “mindful that the challenges of our current economic climate affect every stratum of society, including those who have invested in the transportation industry. Hence the sub-committee has meticulously integrated a multi-dimensional approach into crafting a fair and equitable fare adjustment proposal”.

Vaz explained that the staggered fare increase took into account the inflationary impact of transportation.

“It was a consensus and we wanted to see how best we could cushion this and allow for the new financial year and the minister of finance to take this into consideration ahead of time of the 2024/25 budget. That was the agreement that was kindly accepted by the stakeholders,” Vaz shared.

The minister noted that transport operators were last granted a 25 per cent fare increase in 2021, however, only 15 per cent of the amount was implemented, the additional 10 per cent still being outstanding.

“In essence, that 10 per cent that they didn’t get is a part of this staggered increase of the 19 (per cent) and the 16 (per cent)…” said Vaz.

He also told the House that with the increase, the members of the steering committee have committed to tackling the issues bedeviling the industry.

“These issues include the lamentable condition of the transportation infrastructure throughout the island, enforcement matters and a slate of road markings and signage,” Vaz disclosed.