Opposition says new increase will hit rural commuters hard
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is encouraging the government to reconsider its proposals for a more affordable and planned approach in deciding fare increases for taxis and rural bus operators.
“Knowing well the inflationary impact the 35 per cent fare hike will have on commuters, the new fare should not have been implemented without a comprehensive impact study,” the PNP said in a statement on Friday.
Opposition Spokesman, Transport and Works Mikael Phillips said that for more than two years, proposals were made to successive ministers which would help to stabilise fares, including a recommendation to remove the fare-setting mechanism from the political directorate and make it the responsibility of the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR).
“Instead, the minister chose to use a sector committee that did not have the benefit of any affordability study, or direct commuter input,” Phillips said.
In addition, he said, the two-step approach is an admission that the new fare rates may not be affordable as parents will face three different fare levels to send their children to school in one academic year and workers will also pay three different fares to get to work within one pay cycle. Phillips also stated that the overall 35 per cent increase will greatly impact minimum wage earners.
Phillips went on to say that without a comprehensive policy approach to the transport sector, including financing, lower fuel cost, and funds for re-fleeting obsolete rural buses, it will not be long before operators are back to secure higher fares to meet the spiralling costs of inputs for public transportation.
Additionally, the spokesperson strongly recommends that the government should consider capping the ad valorem fuel taxes at US$67.50 per barrel, as the current rate stands at US$85.00.
“Since the Government is firm on implementing the new fare on Sunday, October 15, there is likely to be chaos as the Transport Authority has not gazetted a new fare table up to this morning [Friday],” Phillips said.
“Apparently it is expected that the operators will calculate phase one of 19 per cent on existing fares, but that is surely a recipe for disaster due to the hundreds of origins and destinations traversed by commuters. The government has a duty to calculate and publish a new fare order and table”, he added.