PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Member of Parliament for Portland Eastern Ann-Marie Vaz on Sunday told cheering supporters of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) that, with the help of the private sector, two school buses have been procured for her constituency. She said she will soon engage in talks with the relevant agencies to get the vehicles on the road.

“Because of my commitment and knowing the pain of walking, we have procured two school buses for East Portland. They will be paid for and maintained by the private sector. I will be meeting with the Ministry of Education shortly… to work it out,” said Vaz who, during her campaign for the seat in the 2019 parliamentary by-election, dubbed herself ‘Action Ann’.

“The bus will leave from Windsor Castle, Hector’s River to Port Antonio” she announced at a constituency rally held at Port Antonio High School.

Her husband and MP for Portland Western Daryl Vaz, who also has responsibility for the transport portfolio, was among those cheering to her announcement. He pointed out to her a photo of the two buses on the screen behind them on the stage.

Ann-Marie Vaz’s announcement is in line with Daryl Vaz’s commitment to have a rural bus system in place. He has often spoken of the challenges students outside urban areas face in getting to and from school.

Some have to leave home before dawn and return home long after it gets dark, placing them at risk and reducing the time they have for school work. Concerns heightened earlier this year after two Titchfield students died in a crash near Buff Bay as they were returning from school in a taxi. A third student suffered serious injuries and was hospitalised for months. Last year another student died from a crash at Black Hill, in Portland Western, and other students have been injured in a number of traffics mishaps in Portland Eastern.

— Everard Owen