PUBLIC Passenger Vehicle (PPV) operators who withdrew their services in the Corporate Area on Monday say they plan to continue the strike until they get solid solutions to their grouses.

It is anticipated that those solutions could come out of today’s meeting between the transport sector leaders, Transport Authority, Island Traffic Authority, and Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

However one PPV operator, Gregord O’Connor, who joined about 30 of his colleagues in a peaceful protest at Parade in the downtown Kingston area, told the Jamaica Observer that they do not intend to stop, and the strike would not be a one-day event.

“We are not going to take any little promises where you say alright, we’re going to go to the drawing board or we are going to have dialogue. No, we don’t want that, because they give too many promises. We won’t stop until we are satisfied [with the resolution],” he said, insisting that PPV operators are being treated unjustly by the authorities.

The operators have planned a five-day protest.

According to the Transport Authority, some PPV operators across the island staged the protest citing concerns about the impending move to suspend drivers’ licences, as well as the assignment of demerit points for certain infractions under the Road Traffic Act and its supporting regulations.

Operators are particularly concerned about the stipulation in the new Road Traffic Act of an automatic suspension of a driver’s licence after an accumulation of 10 demerit points. They say just one or two traffic tickets could cause them to lose their licence.

Under the law, losing 10 points could result in the licence being suspended for six months. If 14 points are lost, the licence will be suspended for a year, and accumulating 20 or more points could mean a suspension of the licence for at least two years.

But on Monday Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the strike should not have happened, deeming it “premature and unnecessary” given the fact that Tuesday’s meeting was advertised last week. He surmised that it was either politically motivated or there was a lack of communication between the taxi associations and the PPV operators.

“Obviously there is a situation where I would like to believe that it is a lack of communication why the transport operators continue to take action after a very definitive statement was made from last week that there would be a meeting tomorrow [Tuesday] to address their concerns in relation to demerit points,” Vaz said in an audio release.

“So. I can only conclude that it is either politically motivated or it is a lack of communication getting down from the taxi organisations [and] associations to the actual drivers. I would want to believe that it is a situation where it is a communication situation, however I will continue to watch throughout the day,” Vaz said.

He said that the matters the drivers will raise at Tuesday’s meeting will be a part of the Road Traffic Act review which concludes at the end of June.

Another operator, Wayne, from the Half-Way-Tree area, echoed the worry of many of his colleagues gathered at a gas station alongside their parked vehicles, stressing that their licence is their livelihood and they cannot afford to lose it as they would be unable to care for themselves, their families or pay their bills.

“They are targeting us PPV operators; you can’t take our licence and tell us about 10 points, how are we going to survive? What are we going to do?” he questioned.

“We do driving as a means of survival. When they take away our licence and we can’t drive, what are we going to do now? Turn criminal and go and rob and kill people? And besides, if you don’t issue any tickets it’s not going to bring you any revenue for the country, so you take away our licence, you can’t give us any tickets, so where is the revenue?” he further mused.

The operators contend that there are many flaws in the system which need to be addressed, and claim the system seems to be designed to apply severe pressure to PPV operators.

“Today we stand with our brothers because that’s all we can do to get the attention of the Government — and from morning till now, nobody come to address the taxi men because no one sees our concern as important. We are being treated as criminals,” a taxi operator who gave his alias as Shortman told the
Observer.

Several members of the JCF were later seen talking amicably with the operators.

The Transport Authority, in its release, said that following Tuesday’s meeting a report will be made to Vaz about operators’ concerns for his consideration, based on the legislative review that is currently being undertaken of the Road Traffic Act and Regulations.

It said Transport Authority Managing Director Ralston Smith is asking operators to reach out to their respective representatives with their concerns for discussion at the upcoming meeting. The authority also appealed to all PPV operators to allow good sense to prevail.

In the meantime, the transport ministry reported that the planned withdrawal of service by some PPV operators had a “moderate impact on the Jamaican transport sector and road environment”.

“The withdrawals primarily encompass taxis and Coaster operators, with notable effects felt in the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region and surrounding areas,” the ministry said.

It said that the areas most affected by the withdrawal include Lawrence Tavern, Stony Hill, Spanish Town, downtown Kingston, and Half-Way-Tree. Additionally, reports of blockages in St Elizabeth, specifically in Malvern, have been documented.

“Planners of the protest appear to have anticipated a greater disruption. Voice notes circulating among certain groups indicated calls to attack Jamaica Urban Transit Company buses and block roads, prompting increased police monitoring to prevent disruptions,” the ministry said.