As the transport ministry looks forward to an allocation of funds from fines gained from traffic offences and speeding tickets, portfolio minister Daryl Vaz has called on public transport operators to submit suggestions on how the money can be used to address issues within the sector.

“I am going to invite you as an association and members to give me what it is that you think are the critical issues outside of national road safety in relation to the industry and where you see the gaps that require funding,” Vaz requested as he addressed the weekly virtual town hall meeting hosted by the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODDS) on Wednesday.

He emphasised that the money does not have to be used for road safety purposes only, but anything having to do with the public transportation sector.

In June, Vaz had revealed that coming out of his first meeting with the National Road Safety Council (NRSC) as minister in May, it was noted that funds derived from road traffic offences and speeding tickets were not shared with his ministry.

Vaz said he was told that the justice and national security ministries received a portion of the funds which is used to repair courthouses and police stations respectively.

The minister said he had requested that 20 per cent of the overall funds be given to his ministry to assist with the road safety public education campaign.

“I am determined to make sure that we have every month our piece of the pie that we can use to help to create a public transportation system that is efficient, effective and most importantly safe,” Vaz said, adding that he was hopeful that the request, which he said could provide “a few hundred million dollars per year”, will be granted.

In June, Vaz said the chairman of the NRSC, Prime Minister Andrew Holness had instructed that a revised plan be created on how funds from traffic tickets are allocated.

On Wednesday evening, he indicated that the submission is in its final phases and the hope is that it will be submitted to Cabinet by the latest November.

Meanwhile, Vaz, who has been leading the efforts to have issues relating to the post-Hurricane Beryl restoration of electricity by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) addressed, admitted the he has been “distracted” by that matter. However, he said the other portfolio responsibilities under his watch (transport, science and telecommunications) will now be getting his full attention.

“I want to say to you that I have been distracted but based on the news tonight where the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) has indicated that the JPS customers will get justice in September and I will make sure to follow that through, I am now going to spend my time again equally in all my portfolio responsibilities,” stated the minister.

“So, I just want to say again I appreciate everything that the transport sector has done since I have become minister because you have gone beyond the call of duty based on one thing, trust. I trust you and you trust me. An, you know that I am going to do whatever I can do to make sure that I improve your viability, your profitability and all the issues that go with public transport,” added Vaz.

– Anthony Lewis.