Holness urges support for rural school bus system amid opposition criticism

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness is calling on Jamaicans to support the implementation of the rural school bus system, amid criticism from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP).

Holness, who was speaking Friday at the official launch of the $26 billion Pedro Plains irrigation expansion project in St Elizabeth, said the rural school bus system, which will commence in September, is a long-overdue initiative.

He noted that his administration has spent the last nine years exploring how to implement a cost-effective programme that prioritises the safety of students.

“It’s one thing to talk about the economics, it's another thing to talk about the malaise of the society, the morality and values that are constantly under assault with our children in public passenger transport, that is invaluable, you can’t put a price on that, and that is why we opted for this modality,” he said.

Transport Minister Daryl Vaz says the Government has spent $1.4 billion to buy 110 used buses to provide equitable transportation for students across 258 schools, who will be charged a flat fee of $50. More buses are to be acquired in subsequent phases.

The PNP has criticised the bus system, maintaining that the buses are old and unsuitable for Jamaica’s hilly terrain and pose a safety risk to students and pedestrians.

But Holness insists that the buses are not only safe but that his administration has delivered on “something that has endurance, it will last and it will solve the problem.”

“People who have never had to take the public school bus, or rather the public transportation system to go to school wouldn’t understand it. I had to take the bus and taxi to school and when I couldn’t I walked to school,” Holness said.

He further stressed that an efficient transportation system for school children is essential to any modern society.

“And every Jamaica should support this, almost every modern democracy that’s what they do, they understand the challenges that children would face if they have to counter, compete in public transportation so they have a parallel but separate transportation system that is more attuned to schools, and the maintenance of discipline.”

-Sashana Small

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