KINGSTON, Jamaica – A resolution to the current conflict arising from the refusal of some public transport operators to abide by the proposed levels of fare increase is threatening the sector. However, with court fines amounting to as much as $100,000 per offence, they will have to reconsider their stance.

A 19 per cent fare hike for public transport operators came into effect last Sunday, as the first phase of the 35 per cent fare increase announced by Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Daryl Vaz, in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Another 16 per cent increase will follow in April, 2024.

Many drivers/operators of the public transport arena seem willing to overlook the October 16 increase. They claim that, in addition to the hassle of finding enough silver coins for change, it is better to wait for the new fiscal year ,which begins on April 1, 2024, for one final fare increase – an idea which has been welcomed by commuters, too.

But, in the meantime, the drivers/operators of some vehicles are going ahead introducing their own increases, which are as high as 100 per cent, while awaiting the next level of increases due next April. An activity which could mean fines of up to $100,000 or the loss of their public transport licences.

Vaz said that the new fare hike was granted in an effort to cushion the impact of increased operational costs being borne by public bus and taxi operators. He said the increase, which was approved by Cabinet, was arrived at through the subcommittee of the Public Transport Operators Steering Committee, which was mandated to formulate a collaborative proposal for revising the current fare rates.

He stated that he has instructed the Transport Authority to set up a PPV certification course, noting that “in a matter of a few weeks, no one will be able to go and get a PPV licence at the Island Traffic Authority without a certification, and that certification must come from the Transport Authority”.

Vaz also noted that in 2021, the drivers/operators were granted a 25 per cent increase, of which they got 15 per cent and were to get an additional 10 per cent which did not happen. So, in essence, that 10 per cent that they didn’t get is a part of the staggered increase of 19 per cent and 16 per cent, which adds up to 35 per cent, which allows for the finance and public service minister to take it into consideration ahead of the 2024/25 budget.

“It is my intention to ensure that the operators in the service are adequately trained in customer service, safety and other areas of core competencies. In this way, I’m being deliberate about improving levels of service provided to Jamaica’s commuting public,” he said.

The transport minister says that the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and Montego Bay Metro passengers will continue to pay fares at the existing rates, as no increase has been granted to them. He also noted that the rate for the elderly, the disabled, and children who use the JUTC and MoBay Metro will remain at 50 per cent of the adult fare.

– Balford Henry