Probe launched into stoning of new JUTC bus

 

A probe has been launched into the stoning of a Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus, hours after it was commissioned into service.

 

The incident occurred about 7:45 Wednesday night along Washington Boulevard. 

 

Security Manager at the JUTC, Radcliffe Lewis, says the bus was proceeding to Spanish Town when passengers when people hurled several stones, smashing the windscreen. 

 

Mr. Lewis says no one was injured in the attack, but he says the bus will have to be taken out of service for repairs.

 

"What makes matters worse now, the windscreen will have to be imported from China or any other country. So we will have to find valuable foreign exchange to import the windshield, as also foreign exchange to pay for the shipping and the workmanship. And the cost of the shipping and the foreign exchange for the glass is going to cost in excess of a million dollars. In addition to that, the time the bus is out of service, that's the amount of money that the bus would have made, is not into this calculation," he lamented. 

 

Mr. Lewis said more than 15 incidents of damage to JUTC buses were recorded in Three Miles, St. Andrew within the last six months. Other areas where these incidents are common, he said, include Riverton City, Seaview Gardens, Six Miles and Washington Boulevard.