Despite growing unrest by public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators over the government’s unfulfilled promise to apply an outstanding 16 per cent fare increase, the government on Monday has requested a two-week extension to finalise its decision, promising a response by June 1.

Speaking at a press conference at the Transport Centre in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz announced that his ministry will return to the Cabinet later today to discuss the issue.

“I am happy to say today that the Cabinet draft submission is going to Minister [Fayval] Williams, and this is totally coincidental. This has nothing to do with the meeting this morning; it was a process.  We are asking for a little bit more time. We are going to send out that submission today, and in discussions with Minister Williams, she has asked for two weeks before we can bring the submission to Cabinet for a final determination. So it means that that Cabinet submission will go to Cabinet on Monday, June 1,” he said.

The meeting followed concerns about a planned disruption of services by public transport operators today.

The minister blamed the delay in the increase in fares on the recent global political tensions, arguing that despite the government not fulfilling its promise, it has helped to cushion the rising petroleum costs caused by the ongoing United States/Israel war on Iran.

“We are trying to balance a delicate situation, but whereas you have not gotten the 16 per cent as of right now, you have been cushioned by the policies of the government in relation to how we handle the war and the increases in price. I don’t need to say to you what the effect would be on the Jamaican people if we were to use or to move away from the $4.50 ceiling per week and have a tiered approach in terms of the level of increase,” Vaz said.

Highlighting that the increase can have a ripple effect on the economy, Finance Minister, Faval Williams who was also in attendance,  added that the increase might be done in two tranches.

“We may be asking for it to be done in two charge. I know everybody is expecting an all at one go, but remember, we’re all living in Jamaica. We’re all experiencing the higher oil prices…. So we’re asking for forbearance from everyone, knowing that the government has been subsidising the prices, not been letting through 100 per cent of the increase that Petrojam is bearing.

In 2023, the government approved a 35 per cent fare increase for operators but has only since delivered on its first phase of 19 per cent.

The remaining 16 per cent was scheduled to take effect in April of 2024.