KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Transport Daryl Vaz has fired back at the People’s National Party (PNP) following sharp criticism over the rollout of the Government’s rural school bus system, dismissing their remarks as “badmind on steroids”.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the minister sought to clarify concerns raised by the Opposition, particularly surrounding the acquisition and operation of buses from the United States (US). In some cases, several high-ranking officials have even referred to the buses as “old”.

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“It is simply badmind on steroids. I wish to categorically reject these allegations as false, reckless and a desperate attempt to use our children to attain power at any and all cost,” Vaz said. “This must never be forgotten and they must be judged and rejected out of hand for these evil and wicked thoughts.”

The minister outlined detailed mileage statistics for the newly imported buses, highlighting that the majority had moderate usage and were assessed thoroughly before acquisition.

According to Vaz, the decision to procure buses from the US was driven by value for money, availability and suitability for Jamaican roads and conditions.

“The average age of the buses being purchased under the rural transportation bus initiative is 10 years old, some as low as eight years old….the average mileage on the buses brought in is approximately 135,000 miles with some having as low as 70,000 miles,” Vaz explained.

Minister Vaz insists that the buses were purchased with at least 80 per cent of their mechanical life left and functionality, adding that the decision-making process included technical assessments and consultations with transportation experts from the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) team who are also tasked with maintaining the fleet of school buses.

The buses, he said, are Thomas-built and Blue-Bird School buses, two of the most desirable school bus brands in North America.

“As a testament to trust, in relation to the current purchase, Jamaica had to compete with countries in North and Central America which also utilise these buses and have indeed made purchases similar to Jamaica. The school buses are designed to handle the most rugged driving conditions whether in Canada, the United States or the Caribbean,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PNP has been relentless in their criticism of the Government for what they described as a lack of transparency and poor planning in the transport sector.

Few minutes before Minister Vaz’s presentation, the Opposition released a statement claiming that it reaffirms support for the rural transport system for students.

Opposition Spokesperson on Transport Mikael Phillips said, “We support the vision of a rural school bus system. But what we oppose is the reckless manner in which the Government is going about its implementation, importing decommissioned buses that were taken out of service abroad and are not designed for Jamaica’s terrain or operating conditions.”

However, Vaz maintained that the Government’s approach was both strategic, safe and responsive to the needs of commuters.

“The buses are manufactured in accordance with the safety specifications of the US Department of Transportation, and they undergo a rigorous maintenance and inspection regime before and after arriving in Jamaica. The safety of our students is our priority. Consequently, upon arrival, each bus undergoes a comprehensive inspection and fitness testing consistent with international best practices,” Vaz said.

He also noted that the Opposition is yet to reach out to him for any information in relation to the buses.

“The lies being spread about the buses show the desperation of the opposition given that they have not requested any information from myself or the ministry regarding the buses,” Vaz said.

The minister says all 110 rural school buses will be in Jamaica by the end of July.