A FEW DAYS ago, the Minister of Transport Robert Pickersgill announced an increase in bus fares. Last week, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company(JUTC) announced that civil servants would pay $35 per ride for 10 rides on a JUTC bus because of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Although there is some small benefit for civil servants in Kingston, THE STAR believes those in rural Jamaica where taxis are the mode of transport will still feel the pressure even more.
Before the increase in fares, the cheapest fare in rural Jamaica was $40 one way. It is now $50 and unlike their colleagues in Kingston there is no smart card to ensure the additional pressure they feel will be reduced.
What this means is that civil servants in rural Jamaica will be asked to pay at least $10 more to get to work which works out to a 25 percent increase. But, for the past two years, their salaries did not move that much. And, we must bare in mind that the school year has not yet begun.
Also, it makes no sense asking taxi operators to offer reduced fares to civil servants, as, the operators are hard pressed as it is, to pay for fuel and maintain their vehicles.
What may be a possible solution to help civil servants in rural Jamaica is providing buses which run at certain points during the day. It may not be the best idea but it could go a long way in easing their hardships.
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