Opposition criticises gov't for ad hoc fare hike

 

Opposition Spokesman on Transport Mikael Phillips has reacted to the announced two-phase fare increase for public passenger vehicles, saying the announcement proves that there is no transport policy guiding the government's decision. 

 

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz said the long-awaited 16 per cent fare hike will be phased in, with the first 8 per cent taking effect today. 

 

The remaining 8 per cent will take effect July 1. 

 

But Mr. Phillips has described the move as highly unusual and extremely disrespectful for commuters. 

 

"A new fare was announced to take immediate effect, yet the Transport Authority was never notified and no new fare table was gazetted. How does any government implement a fare increase without first telling the public what those fares actually are? It has simply never happened before in the history of public passenger vehicle services in Jamaica. Commuters, including our children, were asked to pay a one fare to work and school, and a higher fare to come home. That is unacceptable," the opposition spokesman complained. 

 

He said he intended to "seek legal advice regarding the unusual implementation" of the increase. 

 

Mr. Phillips also called for the government to conduct and publish an impact assessment of the new fares across the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region and rural areas. He said Jamaicans deserve better, arguing that "crawling fare increase brings only hardship, not only to the commuting public but also to operators."

 

Egeton Newman, President of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS) and Dion Chance, President of the St. James Taxi Association, have confirmed that they have yet to receive a breakdown of the new fare table.

 

Managing Director of the Transport Authority, Ralston Smith, has said a public notice with the new fare table will be published later on Tuesday.