ST JAMES, Jamaica — Transport Minister Daryl Vaz has doubled down on his position that the Government will press ahead with the rollout of 110 buses under the Rural School Bus System for the start of the new school year in September.

“I want to assure you that no matter what you hear and you see pon social media, come next week, I have the school buses ready to roll out September morning. No guy can’t stop that!” Vaz declared at Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) mass rally in Sam Sharpe Square, Montego Bay, St James on Sunday night.

Vaz explained that modifications and upgrades have already been made to the fleet of buses.

“I changed the doors from the right hand side, to the left hand side; I put on brand new tyres on all 110 bus,” he said.

The minister revealed that the buses will begin servicing 122 routes next week. However, he promised that if the JLP is returned to power following the September 3 General Election, the number of routes will be expanded significantly over two years.

“And listen to this now. I’m going to give you 122 routes across Jamaica with 258 schools. And in two years, I’m going to give you that other 600 schools, totalling 858 rural schools across Jamaica. And no guy can stop that!” Vaz insisted.

Justifying the initiative, Vaz pointed to alarming statistics on children affected by road accidents. He reported that 743 students have been injured and 63 killed in traffic accidents over the past two years. So far this year alone, he said, 15 children in rural areas have lost their lives in similar circumstances.

He questioned whether anyone truly wants the country’s children to continue risking their lives because of unsafe transport options.