PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
G2K CALLS ON MINISTER MONTAGUE TO SEEK IMPROVEMENTS FROM TRANSPORT OPERATORS
KINGSTON, Jamaica: Generation 2000 (G2K) the young professional affiliate of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is today calling on the Minister of Transport and Mining, Mr. Robert Montague, to solicit from the Transport Operators ways in which they will help to improve the transport system.
President of G2K, Mr. Stephen Edwards said, “Many taxi and bus operators blatantly disregard the rule of law and are frequently disrespectful to other drivers. Their reckless driving endangers other motorists and their passengers. Jamaicans feel terrorized and are forced to go about their daily business in fear. Furthermore, their poor behaviour often leads to conflict with other commuters including serious altercations with other transport operators. The system cannot continue in this disorderly and untenable fashion.
Mr. Edwards further stated, “Given that the Transport Operators themselves depend on the safe and efficient functioning of the road network, it is in their best interest to regulate their own. Therefore, it is imperative that they take practical steps to clean up the system and improve their delivery of service to the public. Transport Operators must offer the public a comprehensive plan to clean up the system that clearly demonstrates that the safe transport of people can be a professional business.”
Recent reports carried in the media stated that the president of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), Mr. Egeton Newman, publicly commended Minister Montague for being a good communicator, having an open door policy and breaking the glass ceiling in the way he engages with stakeholders in the sector. However, reports further state that Mr. Newman raised the matter of a fare increase for taxi operators.
The Government over the years has always given to the transport industry. It’s time for the industry to give back by facilitating the improvement of the system. Therefore, clear steps must be taken by the transport operators, through their respective groups, to improve their delivery of service before there are any talks about fare increases,” said G2K Vice President, Mr. Edson Carr.
Generation 2000 is calling on the Minister of Transport and Mining to ensure that Transport Operators present and commit to an industry improvement plan before engaging in talks about fare increases.
