Commuters told to brace for fare increase

 

Commuters are being alerted to brace for an increase in taxi and bus fares.

 

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said he is in receipt of a report from the Public Passenger Vehicles Steering Committee, which has been deliberating on fare adjustments for the transport sector.

 

Mr. Vaz made the disclosure during a post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday morning at Jamaica House.

 

He said the report will be discussed immediately and brought to Cabinet "in short order" once reviewed.  

 

"The issues that confront the transport sector and have done so for many years, if not decades, are being dealt with assiduously. And the fact of the matter, whether it is good news or bad news, depending on what side of the transport sector you sit on, we are going to deal with them in a upfront (sic) manner, transparent, and of course, make sure, as best as possible that there is consensus," he declared. 

 

The minister noted that increased fares must be tied to better service within the transportation sector.

 

Meanwhile, Egeton Newman, President of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), has said transport operators are expecting an announcement by the government of a fare increase before the end of this month.

 

He said TODSS and other transport groups have been lobbying for a fare adjustment over the last several years and are happy that an increase could come soon.

 

"It seems to me that within the next couple of weeks...the public transport sector and the commuting in public will see a change in fares and, of course, that's what we really want," he said, adding that "This sets the way for us now to prepare ourselves to provide the best quality service for the commuting public."  

 

Mr. Newman insisted that a fare adjustment is justified at this time due to the increased costs facing transport operators.

 

"We have been struggling for nine years and we got a small pittance in 2021. It was a hit below the belt, so we were still waiting. Our operational cost is 65% in the deficit, and... we really want this tomorrow morning. But we understand the work of the government and the special committee, and so we hold a little bit longer for this announcement by the minister."