ST CATHERINE, Jamaica— Scores of people have been left stranded at a bus stop in Greendale, Spanish Town in St Catherine Monday morning amid the all-island transportation strike.

One resident in the area told Observer Online that she had to put her niece on a private taxi to go to school as she is sitting her Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams.

The woman said that while she is uncomfortable with putting her niece on an unregulated vehicle, she does not have any other options. She went on to urge public transportation operators to give ample notice when they plan on taking protest actions.

“No (I am not comfortable) but because she has exam she has to go. Sometime them have to give we an update on when they are going on strike. They say it on the same day or the night before of the strike and sometime it sabotage the children dem but what do we have to do as parents? I hope she gets something to come back home,” the woman said.

She said the fare on the private taxi is $500 from Spanish Town to Kingston, $300 more than what a coaster bus would usually charge.

Screengrab of a video of an empty coaster bus passing a group of people left stranded at a bus stop in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

She expressed that she was uneasy with the increase but, again, she has no choice.

“I feel very uncomfortable, I feel very bad but what I got to do? She (her niece) has to do her exam,” the woman said.

On Sunday, there were reports of a potential all-island transportation strike, in response to a June 5 meeting which included stakeholders and the Island Traffic Authority.

The meeting was about potentially triggering the reinstatement of driver’s license suspensions due to accumulated demerit points.

In response to the recommendation, public transport operators threatened to withdraw their service effective Monday, for five days.