KINGSTON, Jamaica – Following the announcement of the reduction in bus fares for Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC), Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says this decision is a step in the right direction.

The minister, who was speaking at Wednesday’s Post Cabinet Press Briefing said, “We are moving in the right direction, and any decrease in anything is substantial.”

In the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Minister of Finance Dr Nigel Clarke announced that adult passengers of the JUTC will see their bus fare slashed by 30 per cent from the current $100 to $70 as of January 1, 2024.

At the same time, students will see their bus fare reduced by $5 from $30 come January 1, while pensioners will see their fare rolled back from $40 to $30 at the start of the new year.

READ: JUTC fares slashed as Gov’t moves to rein in inflation

“I hear the cries of the people saying how much will this help…what I would ask everybody to look at is the effects that inflation would have, which is ravaging the world, and not by no means Jamaica has been left out of that. Therefore, what we have done is to try and control the inflation going forward, which will have huge benefits to the entire population,” Vaz said.

He added that Jamaicans should not “look at it in terms of ‘I don’t use the JUTC bus so it does not affect me’ it affects everything living citizen in Jamaica because when you to the supermarket or anywhere, you are feeling the effects of inflation and the Government has to try and control as best as possible.”

However, when addressing the question of the timeliness of the buses, Minister Vaz conceded that despite there being a slight improvement, the efficiency of the system is not where it should be.

“Because of the 50 buses, we have been able to improve, and the other buses that we have been able to put into the system. So, yes that is an issue in terms of the bus routes and we are working to come up with some things, especially in the festive system, going into January, back-to-school morning, to see how we can actually communicate better in terms of information in relation to the buses,” he said.

READ: Cash-strapped JUTC getting 50 new buses for fleet

Nevertheless, the minister is encouraging the public to continue sending their issues or suggestions to the JUTC or through the Transport Authority.

We “take your criticism or your concerns seriously,” the Minsiter noted.

Additionally, Vaz reminded the public that the ministry intends to increase the capacity of the JUTC by 300 buses over the next couple of years, with 100 buses scheduled to arrive on the island as soon as June and no later than September next year.

READ: Gov’t plans to significantly increase JUTC buses over next two years

“The impact of those 100 buses will probably increase JUTC’s daily movements by about 20,000, so you will be moving to 80,000. For me and the Government I represent, 60,000 people are a lot of people in any way shape or form,” he said.

“The other good side of it is that those hundred buses allow us to extend our routes to St Thomas, with the new infrastructure, and to Clarendon boarding in Manchester. Which again will have a huge impact in relation to people being able to move more efficiently. Three hundred new buses will substantially improve the efficiency of the JUTC in terms of public passenger transportation, so we look forward to that,” the minister added.