Dear Editor,
Appalled and disgusted cannot sufficiently describe my immediate reaction at the Jamaica Urban Transit Comapny's (JUTC) intention to discontinue its system of free transfers.
They say it is to plug revenue leaks but it only adds to the woes of its customers, after being granted, a significant fare increase less than three months ago.
Commuters, many hanging on to the poverty line, who travel daily from Washington Boulevard and its environs to work along the routes of Papine, New Kingston or downtown Kingston will no longer struggle to pay $200 per day/$1,000 per workweek for transportation, but will instead have to double their transportation budget, perhaps at the expense of a nightly meal for their families.
The JUTC seems yet to consider the obvious fact that the majority of their customers fall within the large percentage of minimum wage earners and unemployed who are constantly deprived of life's basic needs due to the high cost.
While not directly affected by this decision by the JUTC, my sentiments are with the poor and helpless who are subject to the oppressive stances taken by entities operating autonomously in various industries in Jamaica, such as that of public transport.
The bus company should be charged with finding sustainable means to deal with the numerous issues they are faced with, both internally and externally, which results in the enormous financial loss they experience.
I hope that our prime minister is already aggressively engaging the JUTC in discussions on how best to alleviate this burden on the poor, given her constant affirmation of love for that group in our society.
Phillip A Royal
phillip.royal@gmail.com
JUTC transferring stress to the poor
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Appalled and disgusted cannot sufficiently describe my immediate reaction at the Jamaica Urban Transit Comapny's (JUTC) intention to discontinue its system of free transfers.
They say it is to plug revenue leaks but it only adds to the woes of its customers, after being granted, a significant fare increase less than three months ago.
Commuters, many hanging on to the poverty line, who travel daily from Washington Boulevard and its environs to work along the routes of Papine, New Kingston or downtown Kingston will no longer struggle to pay $200 per day/$1,000 per workweek for transportation, but will instead have to double their transportation budget, perhaps at the expense of a nightly meal for their families.
The JUTC seems yet to consider the obvious fact that the majority of their customers fall within the large percentage of minimum wage earners and unemployed who are constantly deprived of life's basic needs due to the high cost.
While not directly affected by this decision by the JUTC, my sentiments are with the poor and helpless who are subject to the oppressive stances taken by entities operating autonomously in various industries in Jamaica, such as that of public transport.
The bus company should be charged with finding sustainable means to deal with the numerous issues they are faced with, both internally and externally, which results in the enormous financial loss they experience.
I hope that our prime minister is already aggressively engaging the JUTC in discussions on how best to alleviate this burden on the poor, given her constant affirmation of love for that group in our society.
Phillip A Royal
phillip.royal@gmail.com
JUTC transferring stress to the poor
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