Mark Wignall | New possibilities in public transport?

Public transport is usually not the concern of those who own and drive cars to and from their workplaces and for pleasure. Even for those whose domestic helpers and gardeners have to use public transport to get to work and employers of a large labour force, as far as most of them are concerned, getting there on time is of utmost importance.

But with 90-grade petrol selling as high as $175 per litre ($662, or more than US$5, per gallon), travel will soon be everyone's business.

Public transport is seen mostly as a Kingston and St Andrew thing when, in fact, it is a poor, rural mother sending out her young child at 5:30 a.m. to catch a route taxi to school and crowds of people packing themselves in assorted vehicles trying to reach their hilly communities and homes at 7 p.m.

Transport Minister Bobby Montague, a 'country' man, knows this. He knows that some people in his own parish of St Mary have to walk more than a mile to access a route taxi because the route does not extend to where they live, so his proposal (among many others) that some taxi drivers designate their own routes is bold, but it has also caused consternation among the chattering classes.

Last Tuesday, I caught up with him briefly and asked him two questions:

"What makes this new public transport reform or change different from and better than those which went before?"

He said, "This is better as rather than ramming the changes down on the people, we are inviting all the stakeholders to have a say in the changes. Note that our proposals are not cast in stone. They are a starting point in the conversation. But, be reasonable. Don't only criticise; if you don't agree with my proposals, then put some alternatives on the table. Let us show respect for all views but get something done because many people are still standing long waiting on transport. What we have presently can use a significant boost in efficiency."

MORE COMPETITION, BETTER SERVICE

"Minister, what is the most significant change that these proposals will bring to the travelling public and transport operators?"

"Mark, by opening up the sector, we allow for self-regulation. It creates more competition and thus a better service and more value added. The public will get a better service. There will also be more opportunities for persons to enter and participate. The competition will allow or force some to offer more unique or boutique services. For others to get more businesses, they will have to offer better service and force some to serve deep rural communities."

Minister Montague knows that as more operators are added, more mechanics and auto-parts dealers will come in as a result of vertical integration, but repairing the road surfaces in rural areas will be key.

The very simple idea to have road licences renewed on one's birth date instead of tax time in April is one of those proposals that will have some asking why that wasn't figured out long before now. We know the pressures placed on tax offices when, as the minister stated, 40,000 operators flock them all at once.

Other agencies of government, especially the Jamaica Constabulary Force, will have to step up to rid us of the extortion parasites and armed criminals who will see more transport operators in the system as simply more prey to feed on.

The commissioner of police, all in his second-tier leadership, and every beat cop know that extortion is facilitated by rogue cops. The time is long overdue to get these criminals off the backs of hard-working transport operators.

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