JUTC resuming operations with security on board
ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) says its buses are operating on select routes with security personnel on board, after the company’s drivers withdrew their services yesterday over the killing of one of their colleagues.
“We are on the road again! We are phasing in our roll out on selective routes. Buses have been dispatched from our Spanish Town and Portmore depots. Security on board,” the JUTC tweeted this morning.
JUTC buses have also been seen operating on routes in Kingston and St Andrew.
In a statement late yesterday evening, the State-run bus company said it would enhance security across its operations following the killing of its employee and a taxi operator.
Read: A day of fear and chaos sparked by two murders
Managing Director of the JUTC, Paul Abrahams, said the staff at the Rockfort depot are tense and fearful.
“One can understand their unwillingness to go out, given that the driver who was killed was from this depot. We will be providing counselling support in addition to staff bus protection in the hope that this situation will quickly come to a resolution. Consequently, we anticipate that Portmore and Spanish Town drivers will show up for the resumption of service,” Abrahams added.
In addition, some 40 police officers along with private security guards have been deployed to strategic locations to provide static duty. These include but are not limited to – the Half Way Tree Transport Centre, North Odean Avenue, Down Town, Papine to Half Way Tree, Chancery Street and North and South Parades, the JUTC said.
The bus company’s Corporate Communications Manager Cecil Thoms said “there is still a palpable fear amongst drivers and we continue to assuage fears so that they will show up tomorrow (Wednesday). We will continue to do all we can to resume full service to our commuters”.
Schools to resume
Meanwhile, regular classes are expected to resume today following the return of public transportation in the Kingston and St Andrew Metropolitan Area and sections of St Catherine served by the JUTC.
The Ministry of Education in a statement late yesterday, advised that subsequent to the gradual return of JUTC buses to the system and based on discussions with the police and schools, regular classes can resume.
At the same time, it urged parents and guardians as well as school administrators to monitor the news media for any developments, which could have an adverse impact on classes being held or which may affect the safety of their children.
Parents are being urged to enforce the need for students to remain focused and pay attention to their immediate surroundings at all times.
The ministry said it will continue to monitor the situation and advise as necessary.