The Government has granted a 35 per cent fare increase to public transport operators. This is to be done in two phases — 19 per cent effective Sunday, October 15, 2023; and a further 16 per cent in April 2024.

Making the disclosure in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday, Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport Daryl Vaz said the fare hike was granted in a bid 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.

“I am mindful that the challenges of our current economic climate affect every stratum of society, including those who have invested in the transportation industry. Hence, the subcommittee has meticulously integrated a multi-dimensional approach into crafting a fair and equitable fare adjustment proposal,” Vaz said.

He said the staggered increase includes a portion of a 25 per cent raise that did not materialise when a fare hike was granted two years ago.

“In 2021, they were granted 25 per cent [increase] for which they got the 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 this staggered increase of the 19 and the 16 which is 35 [per cent],” he said, adding that the arrangement was done to allow for the finance and public service minister to take it into consideration ahead of the 2024/25 budget.

Vaz said Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) and Montego Bay Metro passengers will continue to pay fares at the existing rate, as no increase has been granted to those two entities.

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.

The minister said that the steering committee is also actively assessing various operational challenges with the collective aim of tackling the prevailing issues in the public transportation system. This, he said, includes the lamentable condition of the transportation infrastructure throughout the island, enforcement matters and the state of road markings and signage.

“I am very serious about creating a public transportation system we can all be proud of. In my quest to partner with the public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators, the ministry, through the Transport Authority, is currently undertaking a PPV driver conductor platform,” he said, adding that 3,582 participants have registered to date and 45 have completed the programme.

“It is my intention to ensure that the operators in the service are adequately trained in customer service, safety and other areas of core competences. In this way, I’m being deliberate about improving levels of service provided to Jamaica’s commuting public. The Transport Authority is also currently working to establish a PPV driver’s register,” he said.

Vaz said 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”.